NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team kickstarted the 2024 Wildcat Regional Invitational with a sweep over Southern New Hampshire, 3-0, on Friday morning at the WU Athletics Complex.
Set scores for the match were 25-18, 26-24, and 25-14.
It was the first sweep for the Wildcats (2-3) in the 2024 season, as they hit a new season's best, .292, with only 10 errors. They also produced a season's second best 13 aces in the victory in their home debut.
The Penmen (0-4) used a 4-1 run to get within 18-17 in the first set, but then the Wildcats got kills from Eliza Schneider and Haley Holland to force a timeout. SNHU put a kill down to make it 20-18, but then the Wildcats finished off the set with five straight points. Shannen Litten started the run with a kill and then added back-to-back aces. Blocks by Alex Serna and Gianna Braxton made it set point and then Serna and Karla Nunez-Rivera combined for the 25-18 set win.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 13-8 lead in set two but then the Penmen raced back with an 8-1 run to take a 16-14 lead. A service error sparked a 4-0 run for the Wildcats, with Alex Serna capping the run with a kill, 18-16. Tied 19-19, the Wildcats rattled off three straight before the Penmen answered with four straight of their own to take a 23-22 lead. The Penmen gained set point, 24-23, but then the Wildcats answered. Shannen Litten tied the match with a kill before a Penmen error gave the Wildcats set point. Haley Holland finished off the set with an ace, 26-24.
Leading 10-8 in the third set, the Wildcats went on a 11-3 run to distance themselves from the Penmen, including a 6-0 spurt at the end to take a 21-11 lead. Claudia Melendez had a pair of aces in the run. The Penmen closed the gap to 21-14, but then the Wildcats finished off the Penmen with four straight points, getting another Haley Holland ace to end the match.
Freshmen Eliza Schneider and Karla Nunez-Rivera led the Wildcats with six kills each while Shannen Litten and Karalyn Osborne added five kills each. Claudia Melendez dished out 13 assists while Cam Justus added 10. Gabby Barth led the back row with 13 digs and four aces while Haley Holland led had five aces.
The Wildcats continue hosted the 2024 Wildcat Regional Invitational on Saturday, playing Southern Connecticut State at 11:00 a.m. and Shepherd at 7:00 p.m.
