WATERBURY, Conn. - - Eight different Wilmington University volleyball players recorded a kill as the Wildcats swept Post, 3-0, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross divisional contest on Saturday afternoon at the Drubner Center.
Set scores for the match were 25-13, 15-14, and 25-19.
Freshman Allison Briley continues to lead the Wildcats (18-9, 13-2 CACC) as she was the only student-athlete to collect double digit kills in the win, putting down 10 terminations with a match high .381 attack percentage among the hitters. Post (4-19, 4-10 CACC) was led by Kerrin Kallmann's nine kills, but only hit .083 as a team for the match in the loss.
The Wildcats needed to come back from a six point deficit late in the first set to overcome the upstart Eagles, trailing 18-12 at one point. The Wildcats scored six of the next eight points to get within two at 20-18, but the Eagles received back-to-back points to move ahead 22-18.
That is when the visitors took over.
Tia Williams and Brittany Biddle started the rally with a double block allowing the Wildcats to score six straight points, forcing Post into using both of its timeouts. Briley gave the Wildcats set point with her fifth kill of the opening set before Alex Siolos finished off the comeback with a kill to end the game, 25-23.
Things were much different to start the second set for the Wildcats, as they turned a 3-1 deficit into a 15-3 advantage on the serve of Shelby Henderson. The 14-0 run was the longest of the afternoon for the Wildcats and allowed them to cruise to the finish line. A kill and an ace by Kaitlin DiGiacinto pushed the Wilmington lead to 18-7 before another Briley kill gave them a 22-8 advantage. Post scored six of the next eight points but DiGiacinto was able to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead with a kill to end the set at 25-14.
The third set was close throughout the early going as the Wildcat head a slim 14-13 lead midway through. That is when the Wildcats went on runs of 4-0 and 6-1 to take a 20-14 lead and forcing Post into a timeout. Following the timeout, Post was able to get within three at 21-18, but Wilmington closed out the set and the match with a 4-1 run of their own, capping the match with a kill by Williams, 25-19.
Siolos added nine kills for the Wildcats while DiGiacinto chipped in with eight. Henderson picked up five service aces on the match while leading the defense with a match high 13 digs. DiGiacinto also added 12 digs and two solo blocks for the match.
Kasey Couch paced the offense with 20 assists on the afternoon while Siolos helped with 13 helpers as well. Williams finished with a team high three block assists on the afternoon.
Wilmington returns to the WU Athletics Complex for a busy week ahead, as they host Chestnut Hill and Goldey-Beacom during the week before heading to Concordia next Saturday. Tuesday match against Chestnut Hill is set to begin at 7 p.m.