NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team dropped a three-set match to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division foe Holy Family, 3-0, on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Set scores for the match were 25-18, 25-22, and 25-15.
A small 3-0 spurt gave the Tigers a 10-6 lead in the first set, and it was tough for the Wildcats to string multiple points together the rest of the way. Trailing 17-12, the Wildcats clawed back into it with a 6-3 run, trailing 20-18 after a Tiger error. But a service error allowed the Tigers to get their serve back, and thy never gave it up. They scored the final four points on their serve, winning the first set, 25-18.
The Tigers started the second set on a 5-1 run, but again the Wildcats fought and clawed their way back into the game, getting to within two points on multiple occasions, but as late as 14-12. The teams traded 3-0 runs and a Mandy Behiels kill got the Wildcats back to within two once again, 21-19. After the Tigers went up 23-19, the Wildcats rattled off three straight with a kill and a block from Angel Oliver, and a double block by Oliver and Jessica Connelly, getting as close as 23-22. But back-to-back kills by the Tigers gave the visitors the 2-0 lead with a 25-22 second set.
The Wildcats trailed 6-1 in the third set, but used a 6-1 rally to close to within 8-7 on a kill from Dorie Moore. The Wildcats were within one, 13-12, but Holy Family used a 6-1 run to separate themselves late. A kill from Jessica Connelly brought the Wildcats to within 19-15, but then the Tigers finished off the Wildcats by scoring the final six points to take the set, 25-15.
The Wildcats hit .104 for the match by committing 20 errors while the Tigers hit .211 with only 14 errors. The Tigers also collected nine service aces in the match.
Heather Pedrick put down eight kills and hit .238 while Mandy Behiels also had a team high eight kills. Angel Olive finished with seven kills while Dorie Moore had six while hitting .385. Katie Bushong finished with a team high 15 assists while Elly Collins had a match high 19 digs.
The Wildcats' five-match homestand continues on Thursday, as they welcome West Chester to the WU Athletics Complex for a nonconference match. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.