PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – In close sets, the Wilmington University volleyball team fell to Jefferson, 3-0 on Wednesday night at the Gallagher Center in a matchup of the second and third place teams in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division.
Set points for each set were, 21-25, 22-25, and 23-25.
Wilmington (10-6, 2-2 CACC) was right in the match with Jefferson (8-6, 3-2 CACC), but would slip away in the final points, losing each set by only a few points.
The Rams had an 11-7 lead in the first set, but the Wildcats were able to get kills from Bailey Andrews and Dorie Moore to put WilmU in front by one, but Jefferson would only allow the Wildcats to tie things up at 13 apiece, as they maintained the lead for the rest of the set to win, 25-22.
It was a back-and-forth second set as the score would tie eight times, including a 20-20 draw. The Rams would score three straight points to go up 23-20, but two errors would give Wilmington the chance to get within one to make it 23-22. The Rams however, had the final answer, as they had two service aces to close out the second set and take a 2-0 lead.
A 3-0 lead for Jefferson to begin the third set would give them the lead, until the Wildcats were able to go on a 5-to-1 run to tie the game at 18, before taking a 20-19 lead on back-to-back Rams errors. Jefferson would stay alive though, as they answered with four consecutive points to take a 23-20 lead. The Wildcats were able to hold off two match points, to make it 24-23, but the Rams had the final answer again on the next play to finish the match off.
Mandy Behiels and Sarah Couch both had double-doubles for the Wildcats, as Behiels had 11 kills and 10 digs, while Couch dished out 36 assists and collected 10 digs. Angel Oliver added nine kills, while Rebecca Rawlinson had five blocks at the net. Elly Collins led the back row with 21 digs.
The Wildcats are back home on Saturday when they take on the North Division's top team, Bloomfield. First serve is set for 12:00 p.m.