NEWARK, Del. – On the first day of the Wildcat Regional Invitational the Wilmington University volleyball team went 2-0 against Le Moyne, 3-1, and American International, 3-2, at the WU Athletics Complex Friday evening.
Set scores for the match against Le Moyne were 25-14, 14-25, 25-23, and 25-22.
Set scores for the match against American International were 17-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-23, and 15-12.
Match vs. Le Moyne
The Wildcats (5- 1) started out the first day of the Wildcat Regional Invitational with a 3-1 win over Le Moyne (4-3). Wilmington came out swinging in the first set as they were able to get out to a 19-9 lead to finish the set, 25-14. The Dolphins went on a 4-0 run to start the second set, which put them in front to tie the match up 1-1 heading into the third set.
WilmU controlled the third set, but Le Moyne came back within one point before a Dolphins attacking error and a kill from Dorie Moore gave the Wildcats the 25-23 win. Wilmington would find themselves in the same spot in the fourth set, as Le Moyne fought back to within one again, but the Wildcats closed the door, 25-22, to win the match, 3-1.
Mandy Behiels secured a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs for the Wildcats, as freshman Dorie Moore contributed 10 kills, six digs, and five service aces. Rebecca Rawlinson and Bailey Andrews both added eight kills apiece, as Rawlinson made three blocks at the net.
Sarah Couch also collected a double-double as she dished out 41 assists and collected 10 digs, while Elly Collins led the back row with 17 digs.
Match vs. American International
Finding themselves down 2-1, Wilmington was able to win the fourth set and force a fifth and final set where they held off the Yellow Jackets, 15-12, to come from behind and win 3-2.
American International found a way to tie the second set up against the Wildcats, 20-20, but the Wildcats fought back to take the final three points and the set, 25-23. American International got out to an early 7-2 lead in the third set to wind up taking the set, 25-17. In the fourth set, Wilmington got out to a 14-5 lead, but the Yellow Jackets were able to crawl back within two to make it 24-23, but a Yellow Jackets service error would give WilmU the set, 25-23 to force a fifth.
Bailey Andrews got the Wildcats going in the fifth set as she had three powerful kills, while Sarah Couch had three service aces to take an early 6-0 lead. Three straight points for American International would bring the score to within one though, making it 8-7, but the Wildcats would get a big service ace from Mandy Behiels to give them a 12-9 cushion. The Yellow Jackets would not go away though, fighting off one match point, but Bailey Andrews finished it off with her seventh kill of the night to come back and win, 3-2.
Mandy Behiels recorded her second double-double of the day with 12 kills and 14 digs to go along with three service aces. Dorie Moore also had another double digit game, as she had 11 kills and three blocks. Rebecca Rawlinson added 10 kills and five blocks at the net, as Bailey Andrews had seven kills and four digs.
Sarah Couch also gave herself her second double-double of the night as she dished out 47 assists while grabbing 13 digs with five service aces. Elly Collins had 29 digs, as Genevieve Hughes had 12 in the back line.
Despite only having 52 kills to the Yellow Jackets 64, the Wildcats had 16 blocks to their seven.
Next Up:
The Wildcats will face Adelphi and Franklin Pierce tomorrow in the second day of the Wildcat Regional Invitational. Game one vs. Adelphi will begin at 10:00 a.m., while their contest with Franklin Pierce is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the WU Athletics Complex.
