AMHERST, N.Y. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team closed out the Daemen Volleyball Classic with a pair of straight set victories on Saturday, defeating Salem and Lock Haven, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon inside Lumsden Gymnasium.
Mandy Behiels and Sarah Couch were named to the All-Tournament Team for their efforts through all four matches.
Set scores against Salem were 25-19, 25-12, and 25-18.
Set scores against Lock Haven were 25-22,25-13, and 26-24.
Match vs Salem:
The Wildcats got off to a fast start on Saturday, scoring the first five points against Salem to set the tone. But the Tigers were able to regroup and eventually take a 12-11 lead with a 6-1 run of their own. Another three straight gave the Tigers a 17-14 lead, but that is when the Wildcats flipped the switch.
Mandy Behiels started a run of four straight points for the Wildcats. Now tied at 18-18, Behiels started another 4-0 spurt for the Wildcats, with Rebecca Rawlinson putting down a solo block for the 22-18 lead. Rawlinson then put down a kill and Behiels ended set, 25-19, with an ace.
The hot run continued into the second set, as the Wildcats rattled off the first eight points and 10 of the first 11 to lead 10-1. Another 4-1 run put the Wildcats in front, 14-3, and the teams continued to trade points until the Wildcats led 21-11. Savannah Doctor put down a kill to start a 4-1 run to end the set, with Dorie Moore collecting an ace to go up, 2-0.
The Tigers came out strong in the third set, leading 11-7 in the early going. Still trailing 13-10, the Wildcats scored eight of the next nine points, ending with back-to-back kills from Angel Oliver for the 18-14 lead. The Tigers closed the gap to 22-18, but a kill from Rawlinson, an ace from Moore, and a kill from Behiels ended the match, 3-0.
Behiels led the Wildcats with 11 kills while adding eight digs. Angel Oliver added eight kills to go with two solo blocks. Rebecca Rawlinson chipped in with seven kills and had two solo and two block assists. Sarah Couch led the team with 27 assists and six aces while Elly Collins led the back row with 13 digs.
Match vs. Lock Haven:
The Wildcats closed out the Daemen Volleyball Classic with another solid performances in the nightcap, collecting nine service aces and 44 digs against Lock Haven.
Trailing 7-5 in the first set, the Wildcats went on a 6-0 run in part of a 9-1 spurt to grab a 14-8 lead. Angel Oliver gave the Wildcats a 22-16 lead with a kill but then the Bald Eagles scored five straight to claw to within 22-21. But back to back errors by Lock Haven swung the momentum back to the Wildcats for set point before Dorie Moore gave the Wildcats the first set, 25-22, with a kill.
A 7-1 run early in the second set gave the Wildcats a 10-5 lead, but it was another 5-1 spurt that allowed the Wildcats to separate themselves, 15-9. The Eagles were only able to get to within 16-11 before a Behiels kill started a 4-0 run in part of an 8-1 spurt for the second set point. Behiels then gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead with a kill, 25-13.
An 8-1 run gave the Wildcats a 17-10 lead in the third set, but the Bald Eagles answered with six straight points of their own and all the way back to within 18-17. The Wildcats led 22-20, but Lock Haven scored three consecutive points to lead 23-22. A service error and a Rawlinson kill gave the Wildcats match point, but the Eagles were able to tie the game, 24-24. But another service error led to a Bailey Andrews kill for the match, 26-24.
Mandy Behiels led the Wildcats with 11 kills once again, adding three aces and six digs. Dorie Moore put down seven kills while leading the way with five aces. Sarah Couch dished out 29 more assists while Genevieve Hughes led the back row with 15 digs.
Up next:
The Wildcats begin Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play on the road on Tuesday, heading to crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.