Video recap at bottom of page
Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern MaryKate Rumbaugh
NEWARK, Del – The Wilmington University women's volleyball team took the first two sets of the match before the University of the Sciences came back to take set three, but the Wildcats hung on for the 3-1 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory on Wednesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
It was a back-and-forth first set between the Wildcats (9-8, 3-2 CACC) and USciences before WilmU had seven points in a row to take the set, 25-16.
Wilmington had a slow second start, as they found themselves down 4-0, until a Mandy Behiels kill got the Wildcats on the board. A Miranda Shaw ace then tied the game up at 10 a piece before the Wildcats went on a 4-0 run and did not look back, as they finished the set 25-17.
In the third set the Wildcats saw themselves down 17-12, before WilmU went on a 4-0 run to decrease the Devils lead. An error by WIlmU and an ace by the Devils made it a 23-18 game. Wilmington continued to fight as they then scored three unanswered points to make it a 23-21 game. The Wildcats were able to hold off five set points and tie the game, 24-24, before the Devils finished out the set, 26-24.
The Wildcats did not mess around in the fourth set, as they had 13 kills to USciences' 11, as they started the frame in scoring nine of the first 12 points to take a 9-3 lead and never look back. The Devils closed the set to within 22-18, but the Wildcats scored three of the final four points to end the set, 25-19, to take the match.
Sophomore, Mandy Behiels led all hitters with a double-double, having 17 kills and 19 digs. Jill Braunsberg was right behind her, as she was just shy of a triple-double with 18 assists, 17 digs and seven kills. Bailey Andrews was also just shy of a double-double with nine kills and nine digs.
Miranda Shaw dished out 24 assists, while Jenna Brown added 24 digs.
The Wildcats out-hit the Devils, 53-40, out-dug them, 101-88, and had more blocks, 8-6.
Up next, WU travels to Bloomfield on Saturday. The first serve is set for noon.