Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Inter Mary Kate Rumbaugh
NEWARK, Del. – Going for their sixth straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference win, the Wilmington University volleyball team fell short to Jefferson, 3-1, Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Set points for each match were 25-20, 13-25, 19-25, and 23-25.
The Wildcats (15-10, 7-4 CACC) had a strong first set, as they found themselves down 16-12, but crawled their way back to within four, before scoring five straight points to retake the lead, 19-18. Jefferson would tie things up at 19 apiece, but the Wildcats would finish on a 6-1 run to come back and win the first set, 25-20.
Jefferson (12-8, 7-4 CACC) would go on a five-point run in the second set to gain a 9-5 lead over Wilmington and maintain it for the rest of the set, as they went on a 14-6 run to win the second set, 25-13 and tie the match up at 1-1.
The Rams would take their momentum from the second set with them into the start of the third, as they took a 6-0 lead to force the Wildcats into a timeout. Jefferson would have as big as an 18-11 lead, but a kill from Angel Oliver and three Rams attacking errors put the Wildcats within three. Jefferson would hold off Wilmington scoring three straight points to end the third set, 25-19.
It would be a back-and-forth set to begin the fourth set, until Rebecca Rawlinson and Mandy Behiels had back-to-back kills, following a service ace from Dorie Moore to put WilmU up 14-11. Another kill from Rawlinson and a kill from Oliver extended the lead to 17-14, but the Rams didn't shy away. Jefferson went on a 5-0 run to regain the lead, 19-17, before another four-point run put them up, 23-18. Wilmington would hold off three match points, but the Rams would finish it out with a kill to win 25-23.
Bailey Andrews had 13 kills and six digs as Mandy Behiels finished with a double-double, recording 11 kills and 14 digs. Rebecca Rawlinson had 10 kills and two blocks, as Angel Oliver had four blocks at the net. Sarah Couch also recorded a double-double with 30 assists and 14 digs.
Freshman Dorie Moore finished with a new career-high 18 digs, as Elly Collins finished with 16 in the back row. The Wildcats committed 31 attacking errors on the night, hitting for just .060 in the match.
The Wildcats are off for one day before heading to Georgian Court on Thursday night. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.
