DeSales University Athletics

Center Valley, PA (November 12, 2026) - The DeSales University volleyball team fell just short in its quest to earn another trip to the MAC Freedom Championship dropping a tight five-setter to Misericordia University in the MAC Freedom Semifinals on Thursday evening in Billera Hall.

DSU stormed out of the gates taking a 1-0 lead with a 25-17 win in the first set, scoring six straight points leading 23-14 to take the early lead.

The second set featured 14 lead changes and seven ties in a back-and-forth set. MU led 23-20 before DeSales tied it at 23. The Bulldogs fought off set points at 24-23 and 25-24 and had its own set point at 26-25 before a service error tied it at 26.  DSU got anopther set point at 27-26 but an attack error tied the score at 27 and the Cougars scored the next two points to win 29-27.

DSU rebounded to take the third set, 25-22, once again taking control late scoring four straight points to extend a 17-16 lead to 21-16 and closing out the match winning three of the last four points.

MU controlled most of the fourth set leading 22-15 before the Bulldogs used a late rally scoring eight of 10 points to get within 24-23, before an error from DSU ended the set, forcing a fifth set.

In the fifth set, the Bulldogs led early (8-5) before the Cougars scored eight of the next nine points to take a 13-9 lead and finiished off the win with two straight points leading 13-11.

Junior Kylie Campbell was just outstanding in the loss, finishing with 31 digs on the back line.

Sophomore Alexis Hoyer led the attack with 12 kills and recorded a double-double with 11 digs.  Junior Brooke Signorella had 11 kills and junior Allison Reimer also had a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs.  

Senior Jocelyn Castro had eight blocks and sophomore Samantha Buff totaled five blocks.  Junior Ashlyn Dinan had 19 assists and eight digs and senior Bryanna Purisima finished with 18 assists and 14 digs in the loss.