JERSEY CITY, N.J. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team has now won 11 consecutive sets with another Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep on Saturday, defeating Alliance University, 3-0, in the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on the campus of New Jersey City University.
Set scores for the match were 25-23, 25-9, and 25-14.
The defense held Alliance, formerly known as Nyack College, to hitting just .043 for the match, getting to 47 digs and collecting six blocks in the three sets. The Wildcats (7-11, 5-2 CACC) hit .229 as a team with 35 kills and only 13 errors, adding eight aces as well.
Alliance had a big lead in the opening set, holding onto an 18-10 advantage. The Wildcats fought back from there though, going on a 7-0 run while forcing Alliance into using both their timeouts. Alliance scored to move ahead 19-17, but then the Wildcats scored three straight, getting a solo block form Kacey Affrunti to take a 20-19 lead. The teams traded points until the Wildcats won, 25-23.
The Wildcats carried the momentum in to the second set, running off seven of the first nine points and then scoring another seven consecutive points to take a 17-4 lead. A kill by Heather Pedrick and a block by Kaiya Medina gave the Wildcats a 23-8 lead before Amelia Scarchilli finished off the set with an ace, 25-9.
Leading 12-7 in the third set, the Wildcats scored six straight to open the game and take an 18-7 lead. Alliance battled back by scored five straight of their own to get within 20-13, but the Wildcats score the final three points of the match, getting a kill by Brice Hansen and a final termination from Heather Pedrick to win, 25-14.
Pedrick led the Wildcats with 14 kills while hitting .321 for the match. Brice Hansen finished with eight kills and 10 digs while Kacey Affrunti added seven kills and three blocks. Katie Bushong dished out dished out 27 assists while Elly Collins led the way with 11 digs. Affrunti, Pedrick, and Medina all had solo blocks for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats return home for three matches this week, starting on Tuesday when they host CACC South Division foes Jefferson at the WU Athletics Complex. The first serve against the Rams is set for 7:00 p.m.