Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Inter MaryKate Rumbaugh
Wilmington, Del. – In a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division rival match against Goldey-Beacom, the Wilmington University volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Lightning Saturday afternoon at the Jones Center.
Set scores for the Wildcats were 25-19, 25-16, and 25-23.
Wilmington (16-9, 10-3 CACC) took the lead in the first set, and would not look back against the Lightning (4-18, 2-11 CACC) as they would take a 19-10 lead off a Bailey Andrews kill. Goldey-Beacom would climb within in four points, but WilmU would take the set, 25-19.
It was a back-and-forth second set until the Wildcats were able to pull away by three points to make it an 11-8 game. Goldey-Beacom would hang on to decrease WilmU's lead to 15-14 before Wilmington was able to go on a 10-point run and secure the second set, 25-16. WilmU out-hit the Lightning in the set with a .333 hitting percentage to the Lightning's .172.
The Wildcats saw themselves down, 5-1, to start the third set. An attack error by the Lightning and a service ace by Brittany Ford would help WilmU go on a 7-0 run and take a 10-6 lead. Wilmington would increase their lead to 22-16, but the Lightning would not back down, as they scored four straight points to hold off the Wildcats match point to make it a 24-23 game. Rebecca Rawlinson was able to slam it down to give the Wildcats the 25-23 victory for the Wildcats.
Bailey Andrews had 11 kills and four digs, while Rebecca Rawlinson recorded 10 kills, one service ace, and one block solo for a team high 12 points. Mandy Behiels was one kill away from a double-double, with nine kills and 11 digs.
Jill Braunsberg dished out 23 helpers, as Jenna Brown recorded 16 digs. Brittany Ford had four services aces on the day.
The Wildcats out-hit the Lightning 42-35 with a hitting percentage of .211 to Goldey-Beacom's .167.
Up next, Wilmington will host Georgian Court Wednesday night or a 7:00 p.m. start time at the Complex.
