WILMINGTON, Del. – Looking for their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference win of the season, the Wilmington University volleyball team fell to cross-town rival Goldey-Beacom, 3-1, on Tuesday night at the Jones Center.
Set points for the match were, 25-27, 25-8, 13-25, and 23-25.
The Wildcats' (8-5, 0-1 CACC) 19 unforced errors compared to Goldey-Beacom's (4-6, 1-0 CACC) 27, did not at first seem like an issue, but Wilmington also gave up 11 service aces.
WilmU would start the match on a good note, as Bailey Andrews had three of the first four points, but four straight errors would bring the Lightning to within two. Down by six, the Wildcats would go on a four-point run to get back within two, until two back-to-back errors from the Lightning tied the set at 23-23. Wilmington would get a kill from Rebecca Rawlinson followed by a service ace from Rianne Nickerson to give the Wildcats set point, but Goldey-Beacom was able to hold them off with two kills and a service ace to take set number one, 27-25.
A 10-point run for WilmU in the second set gave them an 11-4 lead, before another eight-point run made it 21-7. The Lightning would only score one more point, as Wilmington took the 25-8 win to tie the match up at 1-1. Another good start in the third set gave the Wildcats the lead, but the Lightning would not back down, as they would go on a 7-1 run. WilmU would only get within four, though as Goldey-Beacom finished the set on an 8-0 run.
Attacking errors and service aces would give Goldey-Beacom a 6-0 lead to begin the fourth set, until the Wildcats found some momentum their way, going on a 10-2 run to get within a point. With the Lightning up 24-21, WilmU was able to hold off two match points, but another error would give Goldey-Beacom the 25-23 win.
Mandy Behiels lead WilmU with 12 kills and 11 digs, as Rebecca Rawlinson had 10 kills and seven blocks at the net. Sarah Couch dished out 36 assists and collected nine digs, as Elly Collins collected 17 digs in the back row.
Goldey-Beacom's Lindsay Przywara led the Lightning with 23 kills and 15 digs.
The Wildcats are back home on Thursday, as they host Georgian Court. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Complex.