The Wilmington University volleyball team captured its fourth straight victory on Saturday afternoon, getting 20 kills from Allison Briley while Kaitlin DiGiacinto secured her 1,000th career dig in the 3-1 win at Bloomfield.
Set scores for the match were 25-13, 23-25, 25-10, and 32-30.
Briley's 20 kills were a season high for the Wildcats (10-11, 6-2 CACC) this season while DiGiacinto became the sixth Wildcat to ever reach 1,000 digs for their career, the second this season behind teammate Shelby Henderson. DiGiacinto's first dig of the match was the milestone dig for the junior, reaching it in the first set.
The Wildcats jumped all over the Bears (9-8, 6-2 CACC) in the first set, using DiGiacinto and Henderson's serve to gain an 11-1 advantage through the first 12 points. Continuing to lead, 21-13, Briley and Erin Bistany put down kills before a block by Hannah Karas and Bistany ended the first set, 25-13.
Wilmington scored the first four points of the second set and held a 15-8 lead after a service ace from Henderson, but that is when Bloomfield made its move. The Bears scored four straight and 8-of-11 to close the gap to 18-17. After a block gave the Wildcats a 21-18 lead, the Bears rattled off five straight points to steal a 23-21 lead in the game. The teams traded points the rest of the game, with Bloomfield getting a kill from Diannmarie Rivera to tie the match, 25-23.
The third set was even through the first 18 points, with neither team able to score more than two points in a row. A Bear attack error gave the Wildcats the 10-9 lead and the serve, and DiGiacinto rattled off six consecutive points on her serve, breaking the game open, 16-9. Henderson took the momentum and scored the final eight points of the game on her serve. Briley gave the Wildcats the 2-1 match lead with a kill at 25-10.
The fourth set went back and forth throughout the early part of the game. Trailing 20-18, the Wildcats scored three straight to grab a 21-20 lead, but the Bears scored three of the next four to retake a 23-22 set lead. Back-to-back Bear errors gave Wilmington match point, but Deandra Black and Jacquelyn Madlock blocked a DiGiacinto attempt to keep the Bears alive.
The Bears scored two straight to reach set point at 26-25, but the Wildcast responded with a kill from DiGiacinto and a Bear error to take a 27-26 lead. The Bears retook the lead 29-28 with back-to-back points but the Wildcats responded one last time. Trailing 30-29, Briley collected a solo block to start a string of three straight points to take the match. An attack error by Ashley Wright gave the Wildcats match point before Karas and Bistany teamed up for a block on match point to win the game, 32-30.
Briley hit .341 with her 20 kills, committing just five errors on 44 swings. DiGiacinto was the only other Wildcat with double digit kills, collecting 10.
DiGiacinto picked up the double-double with 16 digs while Henderson led the way with 22 pick-ups. Alex Siolos tacked on a double-double with 14 digs and 20 assists while Kasey Couch added 11 digs and finished with a double-double with 23 assists.
The Wildcats outblocked the Bears, 11-8, as Bistany paced the Wildcats at the net with a solo block and six block assists. Karas collected four block assists on the afternoon.
Wilmington will carry its four-game win streak into a pair of home games this week, starting with cross-town rival Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday at the WU Athletics Complex. First service is scheduled for 7 p.m.