NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Wilmington University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to Northeast 10 Conference opponents on Sunday, falling to American International, 3-0, and host Southern Connecticut State, 3-1, at Pelz Gym.

Set scores against American International were 20-25, 11-25, and 18-25.

Set scores against Southern Connecticut State were 25-22, 16-25, 16-25, and 17-25.

In the match against the Yellow Jackets (13-6), the Wildcats (10-9) hit 0.139 for the match with 51 digs and seven total blocks. On the other side of the net, American International hit 0.315 for the match with 70 digs, including seven total blocks as well.

Junior middle Angel Oliver led the Wildcats with eight kills on 20 swings, adding two block assists as well. Mandy Behiels had seven kills on 28 attacks, adding nine digs. Jessica Connelly and Heather Pedrick chipped in with five kills each while Pedrick added 13 assists, 13 digs, and two block assists.

The first set against Southern Connecticut State was back and forth throughout the entire game before the Wildcats took over late. The Wildcats were down 21-20 but then a service error tied the game and Jessica Connelly gave the Wildcats the 22-21 lead with a kill. The Owls tied it, 22-22, but then an Angel Oliver solo block, followed by kills from Angel Oliver and Jessica Connelly ended the set, 25-22.

But it was all SCSU after that, as the Owls started early in the second and fourth sets to take control.

The Wildcats hit 0.080 against the Owls, putting down 43 kills while committing 30 errors in the match. The defense collected 72 digs and seven total blocks in the loss. The Owls hit 0.242 with only 17 errors, adding 78 digs and 12 total blocks in the home win. 

Mandy Behiels led the Wildcats with 11 kills and 11 digs while Angel Oliver add nine kills and a solo block. Heather Pedrick and Dorie Moore chipped in with seven kills each while Pedrick added 20 assists and 16 digs. Elly Collins led the back row with 24 digs in the match.

The Wildcats return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action with their next three contests, starting with a South Division battle against USciences on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex. THe first serve is set for 7:00 p.m.