PUEBLO, COLO. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team played a pair of great first sets but dropped both matches in the opening day of the 2022 Steel City Showcase to host Colorado State Pueblo, 3-0, and Cal State Monterey Bay, 3-1, on Friday.
Set scores against CSU Pueblo were 29-27, 25-17, and 25-9.
Set scores against Cal State Monterey Bay were 20-25, 25-18, 25-17, and 25-14.
Match vs. CSU Pueblo:
The Wildcats brought it to the hosts in the second match of the 2022 Steel City Showcase, nearly taking the first set. The Thunderwolves were up 7-4 but the Wildcats fought back to tie the set, 7-7, and make it four straight points to lead 8-7. The Wildcats scored another four-straight to take a 16-15 lead but the Thunderwolves answered again to lead 20-17. The Wildcats fought back again, regaining a 22-21 lead, and then held set point at 24-23. But the hosts scored back-to-back points for their first set point before back-to-back errors pushed the score back in favor of the Wildcats, 27-26. A Thunderwolves dump, a ball handling error, and a Pueblo kill gave the hosts the set, 29-27.
The Thunderwolves turned a 7-7 second set into leads of 13-8 and 16-9 before winning the second set, 25-17. They then jumped out to leads of 4-0 and 9-4 in the third set before rattling off 11 straight points to take a 21-7 lead and end the match, 25-9.
Heather Pedrick put down seven kills and added 11 digs while Kacey Affrunti and Brice Hansen added six kills each. Katie Bushong dished out 15 assists while Elly Collins led with 16 digs.
Match vs. Cal State Monterey Bay:
The Wildcats came out of the gates and led 4-1 and then 7-3. The Wildcats led 11-7, but then the Otters fought back and eventually took a 17-15 lead. Trailing 20-18, Heather Pedrick put down a kill to spark a 3-0 run to force Monterey Bay into a timeout. Pedrick came up with a solo block to make it 22-20 in favor of the Wildcats before a lift call gave the Wildcats a 23-20 lead. An error off the pin gave the Wildcats set point and then a Dorie Moore and Pedrick block gave the Wildcats the set, 25-20.
Tied 9-9 in the second set, the Otters scored six of the next seven point to take a 15-10 lead. The Wildcats had a hard time stringing points together as the teams traded points the rest of the way, 25-28.
Tied 10-10 in the third, the Otters used a 5-1 run to spark a rally. Three more points gave the Otters a 22-15 lead before they closed out the set, 25-17.
The fourth set was all Monterey Bay, as they came out of the gates to lead 11-4. Another 7-1 run gave the Otters an 18-6 lead and then they took set point with a kill, 24-13. A final kill gave the Otters the match, 25-13.
Outside hitter Jess Connelly and Brice Hansen led the team with 11 kills each while Connelly hit at a .225 clip. Katie Bushong dished out 19 assists while adding 10 digs for the double-double. Elly Collins totaled 19 digs while Ki'i Rilveria chipped in with 13 digs.
Up Next:
The Wildcats close out the Steel City Showcase tomorrow with matches against Davis & Elkins and Dallas Baptist on Saturday.