CAMDEN, N.J. – The Wilkes University Colonels women's volleyball squad continued their mid-season road swing with a tri-match in New Jersey Sunday afternoon.  They played against PSU-Harrisburg and Rutgers-Camden, the latter the first of two matches against the Scarlet Raptors all season.
 
The Colonels (5-5) fell flat after winning the first set of a 3-1 (25-19, 11-25, 10-25, 16-25) loss against PSU-Harrisburg (6-2).  They fared little better against the host Scarlet Raptors (7-3) as they were swept 3-0 (10-25, 14-25, 18-25)
 
The Nittany Lions and Colonels battled back and forth early in the first set, but the Colonels managed a 6-2 run helped by some PSU-Harrisburg errors to take a 11-8 lead mid-set.  The Navy and Gold kept the Nittany Lions at arm's length for the rest of the set, never falling behind.  PSU-Harrisburg closed within one point late after a 4-1 run, but the Colonels pulled away with a 7-2 run to take the set.
 
The Colonels only managed early leads in the 25-11 and 25-10 second and third sets against PSU-Harrisburg.  They hung tough with the Nittany Lions in the fourth and final set, an early 4-1 run giving them a 7-6 edge.  The squads would continue to exchange small runs until they were tied up at 16 all, when PSU-Harrisburg went on a 9-0 run to seal the set and match.
 
The Nittany Lions dominated the day, having statistical leaders in kills, aces, blocks, and assists.  First year setter Alexa Cassel (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) led both squads with 17 digs.  Emmaline Stevens and Cheyanna Buckingham had 13 and 12 kills respectively for the Nittany Lions, while Katie Richardson fueled their offensive efforts with 36 assists.
 
In the second match of the day, the Colonels only led in the first point of the first set, and never led in the second set.  The Colonels kept pace with Rutgers-Camden early in the third set.  A 5-0 run pushed them to an 11-7 advantage that the host team erased and then some with a 10-1 run of their own immediately after.  The Navy and Gold would never close in more than three points for the rest of the set and fell 25-18.
 
Rutgers-Camden recorded 16 aces and held Wilkes to a .095 hitting percentage.  Sophomore middle hitter Nicole Fitzpatrick (Newhampton, NY/Minisink Valley) recorded three blocks to lead the Colonels. 
 
The Colonels have lost four of their last five matches and look to bounce back with a road Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom match next Wednesday.  They travel to Madison, N.J. to play FDU-Florham at 7:00 p.m., and are 4-8 in the live stats era against the Devils.  The Colonels won the last time the two squads met in 2019 3-0.