MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team wrapped up its nonconference season with a 3-0 loss at Millersville on Thursday inside Pucillo Gymnasium.
Set scores for the match were 25-19, 25-22, and 25-14.
The Marauders (13-5) put down 40 kills while hitting .193 on the night, compared to the Wildcats' (10-15) 26 kills and 0.33 attack percentage.
Millersville battled back from a 5-2 deficit with a 12-3 run to take a 14-8 lead in the first set. The Wildcats countered with seven straight points of their own for the 15-14 lead, finished by a Miranda Shaw ace. But another 7-2 spurt by the home team gave the Marauders a 21-17 lead before they scored the final four points of the set to lead, 1-0, at 25-19.
Three straight points gave the Wildcats a 9-8 lead in the second set before Millersville went on a 5-0 run of their own for a 13-9 lead. A block by Erin Bistany and Brittany Ford tied the set at 17 before the Marauders went on a 7-1 run to gain set point, 24-18. The Wildcats wouldn't go down easily, though, as Kills from Emma Kongevold, Genevieve Hughes and Bistany, to go along with a block by Kongevols and Bistany brought the Wildcats to within 24-22. But out of a timeout, a service error gave the home team the set, 25-22.
Millersville carried the momentum into the third set, jumping out to a 10-4 lead, forcing the Wildcats into a timeout. The Wildcats climbed back to 13-8, but the Marauders scored the next five points to regain an 18-8 lead. Another 3-0 spurt gave the Marauders a 23-11 lead before they finished the set, 25-14, and the match, 3-0.
Jill Braunsberg led the Wildcats with seven kills, adding seven assists, and a team high 11 digs on Thursday. Ford put down five kills while adding 10 digs for the Wildcats. Bistany and Rebecca Rawlinson contributed three block assists each while Eile Harris had the lone solo block of the night.
The Wildcats return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action for the rest of the season, heading to Post on Saturday for their next match. First service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Waterbury, Conn.