WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's volleyball team dropped a pair of 3-0 matches on the first night of the Colonel Clash Tournament at the Marts Center. Morrisville State College took the first match by set scores of 25-23, 25-21, and 25-18. Catholic University of America won the second match with set scores of 25-16, 25-17, and 25-13.   

In the opening set against Morrisville State the Lady Colonels jumped out to a 10-6 lead with three straight points on a kill by sophomore Alex Ferrier (Cressona, PA/Blue Mountain), a kill by senior Kayley Schinski (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke), and an error by the Mustangs. A kill by sophomore Michele Natale (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) kept the Wilkes lead at a four point margin at 16-12.

Morrisville State would score the next eight points to go ahead 20-16. But then with the score at 24-20 the Lady Colonels would score three-straight points on a kill by sophomore Jamey Mikovich (Nesquehoning, PA/Panther Valley) and two Morrisville State errors. The Mustangs would score the next point though to take the first set 25-23.

Wilkes led the second set early on 6-4 but found themselves down 18-13. A Schinski kill brought the Lady Colonels back to within one point at 22-21 but the Mustangs closed with three final points to win the set 25-21.

The Lady Colonels were even at eight points apiece after kills by Mikovich and Natale in set three but Morrisville State scored six straight points to go up 14-8. From there Wilkes couldn't cut the lead to less than five and the Mustangs won the set 25-18.

Schinski led the way with nine kills and Mikovich added eight. Senior Alexis Morgan (Walnutport, PA/Northampton) recorded her tenth double-double of the season with 23 assists and 15 digs. Sophomore Juliet Betke (Poplar Grove, IL/Belvidere North) had 11 digs and senior Madison Scarfaro (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) added five kills and six digs.

In Wilkes' second match the Lady Colonels started the first set with a 9-7 lead after a Mikovich kill. The Cardinals would turn things around and took the set 25-16.

Wilkes was down 8-3 in set two but battled back to only trail 12-11 after going on an 8-4 run. Catholic would then gain control with seven straight points and won the set 25-17.

An early 7-2 Cardinals lead was too much for Wilkes to overcome in set three as they took the set by a final of 25-13.

Ferrier led Wilkes in the match with six kills. Betke led the team with 17 digs and three aces while Schinski and Mikovich each had five blocks. Morgan dished out 17 assists and had eight digs.

With 13 total kills on the day Mikovich now has 311 on the season and is 32 away from moving into fourth on the all-time single season kills list at Wilkes.

After today's action Wilkes is 8-18 overall on the season. Morrisville State sits at 18-4 and Catholic is 16-14.

Wilkes returns to action tomorrow with two more matches in the Colonel Clash Tournament against Kean University and Moravian College at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively inside the Marts Center.