CENTER VALLEY, Pa.— After graduating a huge group of four-year contributors, Eastern University Women's Volleyball started five new players in their 2025 season opener against Rutgers-Camden in the opening game of the DeSales University Invitational. The new group produced an efficient 3-0 win over the Scarlet Raptors in the first meeting between the two programs since 2018. Alexis Standford had 12 kills and 13 digs and Hannah Pringle hit .333 with 11 kills.

Standford had four kills in a 25-15 opening-set win. The Eagles put in a pair of good runs with Veronica Faber at the service line. The first-year middle had an ace in her ten first-set serves.

In the second set, Pringle led the way with five kills. The senior star hit .444 as the Eagles pulled away early and held on for a 25-17 win. Standford and Sarah Fury each had five digs and Grace Cooper had four as the Eastern defense held the Scarlet Raptors to a .029 hitting percentage int he frame.

The Eagles hit .300 on the way to a 25-9 win in the final set. Furey and Taylor Stone each finished with 14 assists. Faber had three blocks and Pringle and Maddie Golia each had two. 

"I am happy with the team's focus tonight as we begin to learn who we are going to be this season," Head Coach Mark Birtwistle said. "Our young players are buying in and the upperclassmen are leading well. Lexi [Standford] had a really good start to her EU career with a nice double-double."

Eastern is back in action at DeSales tomorrow. They will play Muhlenberg at 2:00 pm before taking on the host Bulldogs at 4:00. Eastern and DeSales played twice a year as MAC Freedom foes between 2008 and 2019. Eastern won MAC Freedom Championship games in Billera Hall in 2017 and 2018.