Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo taken by Frank Stallworth.
NEWARK, DEL - - Wilmington used solid play at the net to power itself to a 3-0 victory over the visiting Clippers of Concordia College in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference volleyball action at the WU Athletics complex on Saturday afternoon.
Set scores for the match were 25-13, 25-20, and 25-15.
The Wildcats (5-7, 2-1 CACC) out-blocked Concordia 7-1, and used a 9-3 service ace advantage to lead the charge. Wilmington hit .312 for the match, compared to just .059 for the Clippers.
The first set started with a bit of back-and-forth action before an Eile Harris kill at 6-5 led the hosts on a 6-2 spurt. That run was bookended by a kill from Megan Ward, and gave Wilmington a 12-7 lead. Concordia would not get any closer than six points down the stretch, as the 'Cats ran off the set's last five points to take the 25-13 victory.
It was all Wilmington early in the second set, as the home team jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead cemented by a kill from Emma Kongevold. The lead grew to 16-9 in favor of the Wildcats, courtesy of an attack error from the Clippers. Concordia showed fight, battling back on a run of seven straight points, using a pair of kills from Michelle Klimas, to tie the game at 16-16. Two kills by Kongevold , coupled with two straight Clipper attack errors, allowed Wilmington to run off seven straight points of their own and take a 24-17 lead. The Clippers fought off three straight match points, before a Kongevold kill ended the rally and gave the hosts the 25-20 victory.
Concordia continued to keep the pressure on in the third set, as the teams remained within three points of each other until an attack error from the Clippers gave the Wildcats a 14-10 lead. The visitors still battled, and got within three again after a kill from Kiakahi Violetti closed the deficit to 16-13. Wilmington turned it on, using a strong serving run from Rebecca Rawlinson. The 'Cats closed out the match on a 9-3 run to take the 25-16 victory and complete the three-set sweep.
Harris led the way for the Wildcats, posting six kills, five blocks, and hit an astounding .667 for the match. Jill Braunsberg added eight kills, 13 assists, and seven digs, while Kongevold chipped in with seven kills. Miranda Shaw dished out 14 assists, while Flores had a team-high 13 digs. Rawlinson served up four aces, while Allison Briley notched six kills and 12 digs for the home team.
Wilmington remains in CACC play next week, as they hit the road on Tuesday to take on the University of Sciences on Tuesday evening. First serve is slated for 7:00 p.m.
