PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team couldn't close out the first set and ultimately Chestnut Hill as the Griffins took a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division matchup, 3-1, on Thursday night inside Sorgenti Arena.
Set scores for the match were 29-27, 13-25, 25-19, and 25-23.
The Wildcats (11-13, 8-4 CACC) held three set points in the first set but the Griffins fought back and scored three straight points to steal the game, 29-27. The Wildcats held set point at 24-23, 25-24, and 27-26, before the Griffins rallied late.
The Wildcats outhit the Griffins, .152 to .149, but the Griffins put down 20 more kills, dished out 18 more assists, and had five more digs. The Wildcats collected 12 total blocks on the night and had seven aces.
Wilmington attempted late set comebacks in the third and fourth games, but the Griffins eventually closed out each set, and the match.
Trailing 22-12 in the third set, the Wildcats went on a 7-2 run to close to within 24-19 before the Griffins closed out the game. In the fourth, the Wildcats were trailing 24-17 before ripping off six straight points spanning a Chestnut Hill timeout to close to within 24-23. But the Griffins finally found the floor to end the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-1.
Heather Pedrick put down 11 kills while adding 22 digs, and three aces for a team high 15 points. Kacey Affrunti collected 10 kills while hitting .421, adding seven blocks (two solo) to lead the charge defensively. Brice Hansen was the final Wildcat in double digits with 10 kills, adding 18 digs and two aces.
Katie Bushong passed out 33 assists while Elly Collins (12), Bushong (11), and Amelia Scarchilli (10), all added double digit digs in the match.
The Wildcats remain in third place in the CACC South Division, two games behind Jefferson for second. The Wildcats have five CACC contests remaining in the season, starting with a pair this weekend in Connecticut. They travel to Post on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and finish at Bridgeport on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.