WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's volleyball team squared off with DeSales University in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom action at the Marts Center on Wednesday evening, falling by a 3-1 final.

The Lady Colonels are now 7-16 overall and 0-5 in MAC Freedom matches.

In the first set, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Wilkes closed the gap to 8-7 following an Alexis Morgan (Walnutport, PA/Northampton) kill. DeSales then notched seven consecutive points to grab a 15-7 lead en route to a 25-18 win.

The Bulldogs again jumped out to a 3-0 lead in set two before the Lady Colonels battled back, jumping out to their first lead at 8-7 following a kill from Jamey Mikovich (Nesquehoning, PA/Panther Valley). Both teams traded points until Wilkes went on a 4-0 run following a tie at 14 to reach an 18-14 lead. The Lady Colonels held on to their lead until DeSales tied the score at 24, securing two straight points while Wilkes held set point. The Bulldogs held the advantage at 25-24 before the Lady Colonels got a kill from Kayley Schinski (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) and two from Mikovich to take the second set 27-25.

Wilkes jumped out to a 3-1 lead in set three before DeSales tied the score at three. The two teams exchanged leads throughout the set, with the score being tied 14 times to get the score to 26-26 before the Bulldogs took back-to-back points to notch the third set 28-26.

In set four, DeSales jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held a 22-9 lead, taking the final set 25-16.

Mikovich led the offense with a match-high 19 kills. Christie Challenger (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Blue Mountain) added nine and Schinski finished with eight. Alexis Morgan (Walnutport, PA/Northampton) led the way with a match-high 41 kills. Juliet Betke (Poplar Grove, IL/Belvidere North) led the back line with 27 digs while Mikovich added 13 and Shayna Fehrle (Philadelphia, PA/St. Hubert) contributed 11. Mikovich and Alex Ferrier (Cressona, PA/Blue Mountain) totaled three blocks.

The Lady Colonels return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Delaware Valley for a 7:00 p.m. MAC Freedom match.