WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's volleyball team dominated at the net as the Colonels swept its Homecoming weekend tri-match Saturday at the Marts Center with victories over New Jersey City University (27-25, 25-11, 21-25, 25-12) and Penn State Altoona (25-20, 25-11, 25-23). For the day, Wilkes had 15 team blocks compared to five for its opponents and 86 kills compared to 59 for its opposition.

With the victories Wilkes improved to 15-8 overall this season. New Jersey City fell to 6-12 with its loss to the Colonels and Penn State Altoona dropped to 4-15.

In the opening set of the day Wilkes battled from behind to come out on top of New Jersey City 27-25. The Gothic Knights led 13-8 before the Colonels went on a run to take a 15-14 lead capped off by a Christie Challenger (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Blue Mountain) kill. New Jersey City went out front again 20-17 but back-to-back kills by Jamey Mikovich (Nesquehoning, PA/Panther Valley) and Sierra Smith (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) off sets from Karlye Huffman (Sugar Run, PA/Wyalusing) put Wilkes back out front 24-22. With the set tied at 25-25 Alex Ferrier (Cressona, PA/Blue Mountain) and Mikovich put away their attacks to give the Colonels the victory.

The second set was much easier for Wilkes as they cruised to a 25-11 win. Mikovich put away a kill to make the score 16-10 and started a string of nine-straight points for Wilkes. Kristie Najdek (Bethpage, NY/Island Trees) was stellar at the service line with one ace while Mikovich and Michele Natale (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) combined for two blocks during the run.

After the third set went back-and-forth the Gothic Knights took control late with seven of the final eight points to extend the match to a fourth set with the 25-21 victory.

The Colonels came out strong in the fourth set with the first four points when Challenger had a solo block and Ferrier put away two kills. Wilkes held a steady advantage until Najdek had another long service run of seven points to extend the Colonels lead to 23-10. Natale provided a kill to give the Colonels a 25-12 set win and take the match 3-1.

Mikovich led the way with 17 kills, 13 digs and a career-high tying six blocks. Challenger tied her career high of nine kills and had four blocks while Natale ended with seven kills and five blocks. Ferrier contributed five kills and season high four aces and Smith had six kills. Huffman finished with 33 assists and eight digs while Julie Murphy (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) also had eight digs. Juliet Betke (Poplar Grove, IL/Belvidere North) led the defense with 15 digs and Shayna Fehrle (Philadelphia, PA/St. Hubert) added six. Nadjek ended with a team-high five aces.

After Penn State Altoona defeated New Jersey City in the second match of the day the Colonels made quick work of the Lady Lions in the final match with a 3-0 sweep.

The Colonels trailed 12-8 before tying the first set at 13-13 on a Challenger and Mikovich block. Wilkes took the lead at 18-17 when Ferrier had a kill as part of a seven point run that swung the set. Challenger and Mikovich again combined for a block on set point to give Wilkes the 25-20 win.

Wilkes got off to a fast start to the second set with Huffman serving and steadily increased its lead throughout to end with a convincing 25-11 victory.

The third set was much tighter as the Lady Lions battled to extend the match. After trailing early, Penn State Altoona tied the set at 14-14 but Ferrier connected on an attack to keep Wilkes ahead. With the score 23-22 Ferrier had her 12^th kill of the match and after a Lady Lions point Mikovich fired one to the floor to give Wilkes the 25-23 win and the sweep.

Mikovich finished the day with her 13^th double-double of the season with 14 kills and 17 digs. She also added five blocks. Betke also had 17 digs and Najdek added a season high six. Fehrle had seven digs. Natale had nine kills and Huffman finished with 34 assists.

The Colonels will look to build on their three-match win streak when they travel to La Plume, Pa. to face Keystone College Monday night at 7:00 p.m. in a non-conference match.