ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - - The Wilmington University volleyball team started the 2025 season with a pair of losses on Friday on the campus of Molloy University. They fell to Belmont Abbey in the opener and the host Lions in the nightcap on Bob Houlihan Court.
Set scores against Belmont Abbey were 25-12, 25-19, and 25-20.
Set scores against Molloy were 25-20, 25-13, and 25-19.
Match vs. Belmont Abbey:
Sophomore Karla Nunez-Rivera led the Wildcats with seven kills and five digs, but Belmont Abbey used late runs in the second and third sets to ultimately sweep the Wildcats in the 2025 season opener.
The Wildcats used a 6-1 run to tie it, 15-15, in the second set, and then a 3-1 spurt to take the lead, 20-19. But Belmont Abbey used a block to start a 5-0 run to end the game, 25-19, and take a 2-0 lead.
A 10-3 run put the Wildcats in front, 18-13, in the third set, but the Crusaders stormed back with eight straight points to grab a 21-18 lead. The Wildcats got to within 23-20, but Belmont Abbey closed out the match, 25-20.
Christine Covello had six kills and 10 assists while Addison Hoover had five kills and four digs. Chelse Blaine-Aggett added three kills, three aces, and four blocks. Morgan Daniels led with six digs.
Match vs. Molloy:
The block showed up in the nightcap for the Wildcats, totaling nine in the match, but the host Lions won their second match of the day.
The Wildcats scored three straight to get back to within 15-14 in the first set, and eventually tied it, 17-17. But the Lions scored three straight and never relinquished the lead. Chelsea Blaine-Agett brought the Wildcats to within 20-19 with a kill but then the Lions scored four of the next five points to take the opening set.
A 10-1 run put the Lions up, 20-10, in the second set before they traded points the rest of the way for the 25-13 victory for Molloy.
Molloy raced out to a fast start in the third but then five straight points for the Wildcats tied the game, 13-13. The Lions countered with a5-0 run of their own and the Wildcats could only get as close as 21-18 the rest of the way.
Karla Nunez-Rivera led the Wildcats again with seven kills, adding four digs, four blocks, and two aces. Eliza Schneider had six kills as well. Cam Justus led with 11 assists while Gabby Barth led the back row with 13 digs. The Wildcats have nine total blocks in the match.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats travel down the road to Queens College on Saturday for two more match. They play Lynn at 12:30 and the host Knights at 3:00 p.m.