NEWARK, Del. - - A balanced offensive attack, coupled with aggressive serving and a strong block at the net, were the keys to success in leading the host Wildcats of Wilmington University to an easy 3-0 victory over the visiting Philadelphia University Rams in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) volleyball action on Friday evening at the WU Athletics Complex.
The win kept the 'Cats (14-4/6-0 CACC) unbeaten in conference play, as they disposed of the Rams in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-17, and 25-17. The Wildcats did so in their pink "Dig For a Cure" Breast Cancer Awareness jerseys, as they supported the fight against breast cancer by raising money to help find a cure.
Wilmington held the balance of play during the first set, jumping out to a quick 7-3 lead. The 'Cats extended that lead to 9-3 on a Brittany Biddle kill. Philadelphia rallied to cut the lead to 13-10, but that was a close as the visitors would get in the opening set, as Wilmington kept the pressure on and went up by as many as 8 (20-12) before closing out the win on a Nicole Wiechecki kill.
Set two was much closer as the Rams broke a 5-5 tie early on with a 5-1 run to go up 10-6. Wilmington answered right back with a 6-1 spurt of their own. That run was powered by three kills from Wiechecki, who keyed another run with three service aces to give Wilmington an 18-12 lead. The Wildcats prevailed down the stretch, and received their last five points from five different players on their way to the 25-17 victory.
The 'Cats were down after the first serve, but never trailed again in the third and final set as they completed the sweep in dominating fashion. Tested throughout the set, Wilmington never let the Rams get closer than two (15-12), and scored 10 of the match's final 15 points to seal the straight set victory.
It was Wiechecki who led the way for Wilmington, as the senior tallied a match-high nine kills and tied her career-high with seven aces. She also added 10 digs, falling just short of a double-double by one kill. Junior Katie Shorter posted six kills and recorded seven blocks, while hitting .357 on the evening. Senior Brooke Foskey had seven kills, hitting a match high .462, while freshman Shelby Henderson led the defensive charge with a match-high 12 digs. Classmate Kaitlin DiGiacinto added six kills and 10 digs, and junior middle Brittany Biddle chipped in with six kills. The setter tandem of Kasey Couch (14 assists, 10 digs) and Alex Siolos (15 assists, nine digs, and four blocks) combined for 29 assists and 19 digs.
As a team, the Wildcats held the edge in almost every statistical category. Wilmington ou-thit the Rams .195 to .052 and recorded 11 service aces to just three for Philadelphia. The 'Cats also out-blocked the visitors by an 11-3 margin, helping pave the way for the three-set win.
There is no time off for the Wildcats, as they are back in action tomorrow afternoon when they travel to take on the Deacons of Bloomfield College in a CACC match beginning at noon.
