NEWARK, Del. - - Dominican used big runs at the end of each set to earn a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep, 3-0, over the Wilmington University volleyball team on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
Set scores for the match were 25-21, 25-15, and 25-22.
Dominican (10-8, 7-4 CACC) hit .270 in the match and collected 12 service aces, using big rallies at the end of sets to close out the game and the match. The Wildcats (11-16, 6-6 CACC) put down 36 kills with only 14 errors to hit .216 for the match, but committed seven service errors.
Eliza Schneider tied the first game, 20-20, with a kill, but then the Chargers rattled off three straight to gain a 23-20 lead. Karla Nunez-Rivera put down a kill to end the rally, but then the Chargers answered with back-to-back points to set the set, 25-21.
The Chargers kept the momentum rolling into the second set, starting the game on a 7-0 run and then another 5-0 spurt to make it 12-2. The Wildcats rallied with a 6-1 run of their own to close the gap to 13-8, eventually getting as close as 18-13. Dominican ran off another four points to lead 22-13 and then finished off the second set with three straight points to win 25-15.
Kills from Nunez-Rivera and Schneider gave the Wildcats a 15-10 lead in the third game but then the Chargers went on a 10-0 run spanning a Wilmington timeout, taking a 22-16 lead. The Wildcats climbed back into the action with a 6-2 run, saving three match points to get to within 24-22. But then one final kill gave the visitors the win, 25-22.
Eliza Schneider led the Wildcats with 15 kills while only committing two errors on 32 swings to hit .406 for the match. She also added seven digs. Karla Nunez-Rivera put down 12 kills while only committing four errors to hit .242. Karalyn Osborne passed out 15 assists while adding two aces and seven digs. Gabby Barth led with 13 digs. Cam Justus added 12 assists as well.
The Wildcats close out their three-game homestand on Thursday night as they welcome Holy Family to the WU Athletics Complex for a CACC South Division contest. The first serve against the Tigers is set for 7:00 p.m.