PHILADELPHIA - - Double-doubles from three separate individuals help give the Wilmington University volleyball team its 11th consecutive victory and remain undefeated in the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference with its fifth straight sweep, this time over Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
The sweep gave the Wildcats (21-4, 13-0 CACC) its 17th straight set as they have not allowed a team to take a game since the first set against Holy Family on October 5. Even with the loss, Philadelphia (14-7, 8-4 CACC) remained in second place in the CACC South Division, now 4.5 games behind the Wildcats.
Set scores for the match were 25-19, 25-21 and 26-24.
Senior Nicole Wiechecki and freshmen Kaitlin DiGiacinto and Alex Siolos collected double-doubles for the match as Wiechecki and DiGiacinto tied for a match high with 11 kills. Siolos finished with a match high 17 digs, picking up her sixth double-double adding a match high 23 assist. Wiechecki finished with 15 digs while DiGiacinto added 11 for their double-doubles.
Trailing 19-18 in the first set, Wilmington rallied to score the final seven points to come back and stun the Rams to take a 1-0 match lead. DiGiacinto tallied the first two points to take the lead for good while recording a solo block to make it 22-19. Siolos followed up with an ace before Brittany Biddle closed the set with a kill and a solo block to end it 25-19.
Another late set run in the second game gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead as they found themselves down 16-15 midway through the frame. Four straight points gave the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish while back-to-back kills from Wiechecki gave the visitors a 22-19 lead. Katie Shorter added another kill for a three point swing, forcing Philadelphia into a timeout. After two points from the Rams, Brooke Foskey gave the Wildcats set point before Shorter and Siolos ended it with a double block, 25-21.
The Rams fought off four match points as the Wildcats gained a 24-20 advantage after a solo block by Shorter. Philadelphia stormed back with four straight points however, holding off the straight set victory for the Wildcats for the time being. Kasey Couch responded with a kill for a fifth match point and after a timeout from Philadelphia, DiGiacinto put away the Rams with her 11th and final kill of the match, 26-24.
Brittany Olson led the Rams with 10 kills and recorded a double-double with 14 digs. Four Rams finished in double figures in kills, as Heather Martin tallied 13 and Danielle Carney and Morgan McCarthy collected 12 each.
Wilmington hit .137 (47-25-161) for the match but held Philadelphia to a .044 (27-21-137) attack percentage in the win.
The Wildcats remain on the road for one more match, as the Wildcats head to Chestnut Hill on Friday night for a 7 p.m. start.