Copyright 2016; Wilmignton University. All rights reserved. File photo of the team against Caldwell, taken by Frank Stallworth.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team wrapped up its 2016 nonconference schedule by dropping a pair of matches at a Southern Connecticut State tri-match, falling 3-2 to Southern New Hampshire before falling 3-0 to host SCSU on Sunday afternoon in Pelz Gymnasium.
Set scores against Southern New Hampshire were 18-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-17, and 9-15.
Set scores against Southern Connecticut State were 13-25, 17-25, and 21-25.
Senior Allison Briley narrowly missed her third career 20-20 performance in the days' first match, producing a match high 20 kills while adding 19 digs in the near comeback.
Trailing 2-0 against the Penmen, the Wildcats continued to fight in the third set, jumping out to an 8-2 lead. The Penmen battled back to within 13-12 but Briley started a 3-0 run to regain control. A block by Emma Kongevold and Rebecca Rawlinson moved the Wildcats to 20-13 before Briley staved off a late Penmen comeback with a kill for the 25-22 victory.
Trailing 13-11 in the fourth set, the Wildcats rattled off four straight to take a 16-13 lead and never look back. The Penmen got to within 20-16, but Eile Harris started a 4-0 sprint with a kill before Megan Ward tied the match, 2-2, with a kill, 25-17.
The fifth set was tied at 9-9, but the Penmen rattled off three straight points on kills, forcing the Wildcats to call a timeout. The run continued out of the timeout, also scoring the final three points of the match for a game ending 6-0 run, 15-9.
Jenna Brown picked up the fourth most digs, 36, in a single match in program history while Briley added 19 and Jill Braunsberg chipped in with 12. Miranda Shaw dished out 20 assists while Braunsberg added 18 helpers. Harris got a hand on five block assists while adding a solo block. Rawlinson chipped in with four block assists and a solo block as well.
The Owls (15-18) were too much for the Wildcats in the nightcap, taking all three sets while holding the Wildcats to a .019 attack percentage as a team.
Briley led the team with seven kills while Harris added four kills as well. Brianna Cunha picked up a team high 15 digs in the nightcap while Jenna Brown chipped in with 12 more digs.
The Wildcats round out the 2016 season with two home games this week, returning to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play. The Wildcats host South Division rival Georgian Court on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex with the first serve slated for 7:00 p.m.