PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team dropped its first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match of the year, losing a 3-2 thriller to South Division rival Holy Family, on Thursday night at Campus Center Gym.
Set scores for the match were 25-16, 16-25, 22-25, 25-13, and 12-15.
It was the first time that Wilmington (10-8, 5-1 CACC) dropped a South Division regular season match since losing to Holy Family (7-8, 4-2 CACC) on the road on October 25, 2011 in four sets. The Wildcats went 18-1 in the CACC last year, with their only loss coming at Dominican from the CACC North Division on October 27.
Despite out blocking the Tigers, 14-5, the Wildcats were out dug, 75-50, and out hit, .217-.177, by the Tigers in the match, leading to their first CACC loss of the 2013 season.
Senior Brittany Biddle led the team with 11 kills and a .346 attack percentage, converting on nine of her 26 swings for the match. Kaitlin DiGiacinto was the only other Wildcat to record double-digit kills, tallying 10 for the night.
The Wildcat led the first set, 16-8, after a six point run by the visitors before closing out the game on a 7-3 run to win the set 25-16. A kill by Biddle, an ace by Annie Scarfo and a double block by Biddle and Hannah McQueen pushed the Wildcat lead to 23-14 before a pair of service errors ended the set in favor of the Wildcats.
After dropping the second and third frames, the Wildcats tied the match by jumping all over the Tigers in the fourth set, gaining control early with a 6-1 start. A four point run gave the Wildcats a 12-5 lead before another six consecutive points pushed the Wilmington lead to 22-8 in the game. A solo block by Katie Shorter and a kill by Biddle evened the match at 2-2 as the Wildcats defeated the Tigers, 25-13, in the fourth set.
The Tigers came out on fire in the fifth and deciding set, earning a 4-0 lead in the early going. The Wildcats retaliated with four straight points of their own to tie the set at 4-4, but another three point streak by the home team gave the Tigers the lead for good in the deciding frame.
The Wildcats were only able to close the gap to as few as two late the frame, getting a kill by Shorter to cut the deficit to 14-12. With set and match point on hand, the Tigers received a kill by Charlotte Sabatino to finish off the match, 3-2.
Tigers' setter Chelsea Keegan dished out 59 of the team's 65 assists on the match, while Alex Siolos led the Wildcats with 18 assists. Kasey Couch also added 12 helpers for the visitors.
Shelby Henderson led the Wildcats with 20 digs on the match while Scarfo chipped in with 14 from the back line. DiGiacinto added 11 digs as a six rotation player, but it wasn't enough as the Tigers outdug the Wildcats, 75-50.
Shorter had a hand on seven total blocks on the night, denying seven attacks by herself while also getting a hand on eight block assists to lead the team on Thursday night. Siolos chipped in with a solo block and four block assists while DiGiacinto added four block assists on the night.
The determination at the net could not outweigh the Holy Family attack, however, as Emma Herring led the four Tigers and the match with 20 kills with a .224 attack percentage. Sabatino, Rachel Johnson, and Sarah Ambach also collected double-digit kills to lead the Tigers offensively.
Wilmington's tough week concludes this Saturday as the Wildcats head to CACC North Division leaders Caldwell. The Wildcats came back to defeat the Cougars, 3-2, last year, after falling behind, 2-0, early in the match. The Wildcats and the Cougars are set to battle starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Caldwell, N.J.
Shelby Henderson led the Wildcats with 20 digs on the match while Scarfo chipped in with 14 from the back line. DiGiacinto added 11 digs as a six rotation player, but it wasn't enough as the Tigers outdug the Wildcats, 75-50.
Shorter had a hand on seven total blocks on the night, denying seven attacks by herself while also getting a hand on eight block assists to lead the team on Thursday night. Siolos chipped in with a solo block and four block assists while DiGiacinto added four block assists on the night.
The determination at the net could not outweigh the Holy Family attack, however, as Emma Herring led the four Tigers and the match with 20 kills with a .224 attack percentage. Sabatino, Rachel Johnson, and Sarah Ambach also collected double-digit kills to lead the Tigers offensively.
Wilmington's tough week concludes this Saturday as the Wildcats head to CACC North Division leaders Caldwell. The Wildcats came back to defeat the Cougars, 3-2, last year, after falling behind, 2-0, early in the match. The Wildcats and the Cougars are set to battle starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Caldwell, N.J.