NEWARK, Del. - - The combination of the best hitting night of the year and 12 services aces allowed the Wilmington University volleyball team to earn redemption on crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom with a 3-0 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep at the WU Athletics Complex on Wednesday night.
Set scores for the match were 25-13, 25-22, and 25-8.
As a team, the Wildcats (14-7, 6-3 CACC) hit .390 for the match, by far their best hitting percentage in a single match this season. They put down 38 kills while only committing six errors in the match. They also totaled 12 aces in the three-set victory, with seven coming off the hand of Genevieve Hughes.
The match started with the Wildcats jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the first set. The Lightning (5-12, 2-7 CACC) got the set to within five at a couple points, but a kill from Mandy Behiels, an ace from Elly Collins, and a kill from Dorie Moore gave the Wildcats a 20-10 lead. Another three consecutive points put the lead up to 23-11 and Angel Oliver put the set away with a kill, 25-13.
The second set went back and forth, as the Lightning carried a 10-9 lead. Bailey Andrews started a 5-0 run for the Wildcats with a kill, taking a 14-10 lead. The Lightning battled back, though, eventually tying the set at 21-21 with a solo block. They again tied the set at 22-22 on a kill, but then the Wildcats answered with a kill from Behiels, a kill from Hughes, and a ball handling error on the Lightning to capture the second set, 25-22, to take a 2-0 lead.
The third set was all Wilmington, as Sarah Couch served the team out to a 4-0 lead. Genevieve Hughes then had three aces in a 5-0 run, putting the Wildcats in front, 9-1. Goldey-Beacom put down a kill to climb to within 15-8, but Hughes got behind the line again and served the match out for the Wildcats. In nine serve attempts, she collected three more aces while Dorie Moore had a solo block and a kill, Emma Kongevold put down a kill, and the match was won on a Goldey-Beacom attack error, 25-8.
Mandy Behiels put down 10 terminations with only one error on 17 attempts, hitting .529 for the match. Dorie Moore added seven kills without an error on 14 swings, while Angel Oliver and Bailey Andrews put down six kills each. Oliver also added six block assists on the night.
Sarah Couch dished out 32 assists while adding 10 digs for the double-double, and putting away four aces. Elly Collins led the back row with 12 digs while Hughes added nine digs to her seven aces.
They Wildcats head on the road this weekend, as they take on Concordia in Bronxville, New York on Friday night. They stay in the state on Saturday, playing a tri-match against Southern New Hampshire and Mercy at Mercy College. Friday night's matinee at Concordia is set for a 5:00 p.m. first serve.
