WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's volleyball team played a strong match at the net with its block working all night, however visiting DeSales University was able to earn the 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-17, 25-22) at the Marts Center in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play Wednesday night.

With the loss Wilkes fell to 9-15 overall and to 1-5 in the conference. DeSales improved to 14-9 overall and remained unblemished in the MAC Freedom at 6-0.

The Colonels held the advantage at the net, out blocking the Bulldogs 10-5 as a team. Sophomore middle hitter Nicole Fitzpatrick (Newhampton, NY/Minisink Valley) led Wilkes with six block assists while first year middle hitter Sierra Hines (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Holy Redeemer), first year setter Alexa Cassel (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin), and first year outside Alexis Reedy (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra Area) all registered three total blocks.

Wilkes scored five points of its block in the opening stages of the first set as with consecutive block assists by Fitzpatrick and Reedy pulled the Colonels to within one point in the set at 15-14. DeSales then scored 10 of the final 12 points to take the opening set 25-16.

After the Bulldogs opened a 5-1 lead in the second set the Colonels battled back and eventually cut the lead to one at 14-13 following a block by junior opposite Kelsey Carroll (Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe) and Fitzpatrick. DeSales slowly added to its advantage and ended the set on a four-point run to win 25-17.

DeSales gained a lead in the third set and extended it to seven points at 15-8. Wilkes then stormed back into the set with a 9-3 run highlighted by two Carroll aces to make the score 18-17. The Bulldogs then scored the next two points before Wilkes would tie the score at 20-20 following a kill by Cassel on an overpass and two DeSales attack errors. The visitors right the ship with two kills, an ace, and a block to go ahead 24-20 and eventually finish off the Colonels 25-22.

Cassel directed the Wilkes offense with 17 assists on the night with Carroll and Hines leading the way with five kills. Hines hit a match high .556. Carroll led Wilkes with 16 digs and sophomore libero Ali Yordy (Fairfield, PA/Fairfield Area) added 13.

DeSales was led by nine kills from Caroline Garretson and Shannon McDevitt while Grace Grandinetti and Audrey Wolfe each had 15 assists. McKenzie Brady and Alyson Maddalone each had 13 digs while Georgia Traynor added 12.

Wilkes returns to action Saturday with a non-conference tri-match hosted by the University of Scranton. The Colonels face the Royals at 12:00 p.m. before ending the day against New Jersey City University at 2:00 p.m. in Scranton, Pa.