Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern Mary Kate Rumbaugh
NEWARK, Del. – Three Wilmington University women's volleyball players had double digit kills in their 3-1 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Chestnut Hill on Thursday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Set points for the match were, 25-14, 25-11, 22-25, and 25-23.
The Wildcats (12-7, 4-3 CACC) were led by Mandy Behiels, who had a season-high 18 kills, and 14 digs. Bailey Andrews added 15 kills and a .375 hitting percentage, as Rebecca Rawlinson rounded out the double-digit kills with 11, to go along with six blocks and five service aces.
Wilmington cruised to an early 2-0 lead against the Griffins (8-8, 5-3 CACC), before Chestnut Hill forced a fourth set. The Wildcats scored six consecutive points including three kills from Mandy Behiels to make it a 24-13 game in set number one, before Sarah Couch ended it with a kill herself to give WilmU the 1-0 lead.
Rebecca Rawlinson would get four of her five service aces on a 10-point run in the second set to help WU jump out to a 16-7 lead. Wilmington would finish the set on an 8-2 run winning, 25-11.
Chestnut Hill finally found an answer in the third set after tying the game up at 10-10, as they went on a 9-1 run to lead, 18-11. The Wildcats would chip away, getting to within two to make it 23-21, but the Griffins held on to take the third set, 25-22, to force set number four.
With momentum from the third set, Chestnut Hill had as large as a four-point lead at 18-14, but the Wildcats would stick around to come within just one of the Griffins lead. With Chestnut Hill now up 22-20, Mandy Behiels would get the Wildcats started on a four-point run, as she had three kills to put WilmU in front, 24-22.
The Griffins would hold off one match point, making it 24-23, but Rebecca Rawlinson had the last answer with her 11th kill of the night to give Wilmington the 25-23 fourth set win.
Sophomore Sarah Couch dished out a career-high 50 assists for the Wildcats, while Angel Oliver added five kills and five digs. Elly Collins recorded 12 digs in the back row, as Genevieve Hughes had 10 of her own and three service aces.
WilmU out hit the Griffins 53-42, while having 14 service aces to their four.
Wilmington will head to Nyack on Saturday afternoon for a cross-divisional matchup with the Warriors. First serve is set for 12:00 p.m. at Bowman Gym.
