NEWARK, Del. - - Georgian Court took the final two sets to earn a valuable Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory, 3-1, over the Wilmington University volleyball team on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Set scores for the match were 23-25, 27-25, 23-25, and 16-25.
The Lions (4-4, 2-0 CACC) held the Wildcats (4-7, 1-1 CACC) to hitting just .062 for the match, coming away with 10 total blocks and 53 digs. The Wildcats hit 32 errors int eh match and allowed 10 service aces as well.
Despite all that, the Wildcats found themselves in the match and had a golden opportunity in the third set to take control. But the Lions battled back before carrying the momentum into the fourth game.
The Wildcats battled back from a 13-7 deficit in the first set to eventually take an 18-17 lead. A Lion service error gave the Wildcats a 22-21 lead but then a kill and a block gave the Lions a 23-22 lead. Karalyn Osborne put down a kill to tie the set, but then the Lions scored back-to-back points to take the first set, 25-23.
The Wildcats jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the second set before the Lions answered back, getting to within 13-11. Another Osborne kill gave the Wildcats a 15-11 lead but then the Lions went on a 7-2 run to take an 18-17 lead. A 4-1 run gave the Wildcats a 22-21 lead, but the Lions gained set point, 24-23, with a Nylene Mateo kill. The Wildcats saved set point with a Lion error and a block. Tied 25-25, the Wildcats got kills from Karalyn Osborne and Eliza Schneider to tie the match, 1-1, 27-25.
The Wildcats jumped out to an 8-1 lead in game three and then used another 7-3 run to take a 17-10 advantage. But the Lions clawed back, eventually tying the set, 18-18. Eliza Schneider gave the Wildcats a brief 19-18 lead before the Lions rattled off six straight to earn set point, 24-19. Haley Holland served four straight points for the Wildcats but committed a service error out of a time to cut the comeback short, 25-23.
A 5-1 run in the fourth set gave the Lions a 16-10 lead. The Wildcats got to within 19-16 with four straight points, but then the Lions ended the contest with a 6-0 spurt, 25-16.
Freshman Eliza Schneider led the Wildcats with 14 kills. Alex Serna finished with seven kills and three blocks while Karalyn Osborne added six kills, 11 assists, and a team high 16 digs. Claudia Melendez dished out 20 assists while Gabby Barth collected 15 digs.
The Wildcats remain at home for the rest of the week, starting with a nonconference matchup against Bloomsburg on Thursday night. The first serve is set for 6:00 p.m. at the WU Athletics Complex.