NEWARK, Del. - - In a showcase between two unbeaten Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference teams, the Wilmington University volleyball team remained atop the South Division standings with a 3-0 sweep over rival Philadelphia on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Set scores for the match were 25-20, 25-20, and 25-23.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Wildcats (10-7, 5-0 CACC), and sixth in their last seven contests overall. The team has not lost a set since the first set against USciences last Wednesday, winning nine straight games. It was also the third straight sweep for the Wildcats over Philadelphia (5-6, 4-1 CACC).
It was a balances attack that led the Wildcats past the Rams, with freshman Allison Briley leading the way with 11 kills. Senior Katie Shorter collected eight kills while Kaitlin DiGiacinto put down seven terminations. Brittany Biddle added six kills while Alex Siolos chipped in with five.
Quarterbacking the offense on Tuesday night was Kasey Couch who finished with 20 assists. Siolos add 15 assists in the three set victory.
The Wildcats needed to come back from a slow start in the first and third sets, getting down 3-0 in each game.
In the first set, the Wildcats countered with four straight points to take a 4-3 lead, and continued to collect seven of the next 11 points to jump ahead 11-7. Wilmington would never trail the rest of the game, but the Rams did close to as close at 18-17. But the Wildcats received a kill from DiGiacinto and a double block by Biddle and Hannah Karas to force Philadelphia into their second timeout. Now leading 21-19, the Wildcats closed the set by capturing four of the next five points, moving ahead, 1-0, with a kill by Shorter on set point.
Trailing 18-16 in the second set, the Wildcats scored two straight with kills by Biddle and Briley to force the Rams into a timeouts. After the Rams tallied a point following the timeout, the Wildcats responded with three straight points to take the lead for good. Philadelphia got to within 21-20, but then the Wildcats used a block by Siolos, a ball handling error and kills by Siolos and Shorter to close out the set to move ahead 2-0.
Wilmington found itself down 3-0 again to start the third set before battling back early. Down 10-8, the Wildcats used the serving of Couch to score six consecutive points to move ahead 14-10 and never look back. Philadelphia closed to within a point at 21-20, but a kill by Shorter and a triple block by Siolos, Briley, and Shorter pushed the Wildcats back in front 23-20. The Rams retaliated with three straight points to tie the set at 23-23, but the freshman Briley put down a swing to give the team match point before Shorter stood tall at the net with her second solo block of the night to end the match.
The defense was solid as well for the Wildcats, as DiGiacinto recorded a career high 27 digs for a match high. Shelby Henderson chipped in with 15 digs while Annie Scarfo added 11. Despite outhitting the Rams and earning the sweep, the Wildcats were only one dig off the Rams' pace, 86-85.
At the net, the team was led by Shorter's two solo blocks while she also added a block assist. Biddle denied three attempts with block assists while Siolos finished with a solo block and two block assists. DiGiacinto collected the team's fourth and final solo block of the night. Wilmington out blocked the Rams, 8.5-4.
Wilmington continues its tough CACC schedule this week when they head to Holy Family on Thursday. After its match on Thursday at 7 p.m., the team is off to CACC North Division leaders Caldwell on Saturday.