Wilkes Women's Volleyball Swept in Tri-Match
SCRANTON, PA – Wilkes University women's volleyball were unable to keep their momentum from this week going as they were swept this weekend in their tri-match against Cabrini University (17-25, 18-25, 14-25) and host Marywood University (16-25, 23-25) on Saturday afternoon.
Wilkes falls to 5-16 on the season, while Cabrini earned both wins to improve to 12-9, with Marywood splits the series between the teams to go 10-10.
The first game saw Wilkes face off against the Cavaliers. The first set saw Cabrini go on a 12-3 run that would set the tone for the series. After trading points back and forth, Cabrini scored seven straight points and take a 20-6 lead. The Cavaliers and Colonels would once more trade points, before Wilkes would get six straight points of their own near the end of the set, which saw a Emily Gentzel (Yaphank, NY/Bellport) service ace and kills from Kelsey Carroll (Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe) and Allison Murie (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest). Cabrini would get the edge over Wilkes to take the first set 25-17.
The second set saw both teams keeping up with one another, eventually tying at 13-13 in the second, with three kills from Nicole Fitzpatrick (New Hampton, NY/Minisink Valley) and two from Carroll. The Cavaliers would score five in a row and go on a 12-5 run to take the second set 25-18.
The third set saw Cabrini put their foot on the gas and go on a 11-4 run to take an early lead. The Colonels would try to climb back behind kills from Sierra Hines (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Holy Redeemer), Hope Ousey (Exton, PA/Henderson), and Alexa Cassel (Mount Joy, PA/Lower Dauphin), but ultimately fall short as the Cavaliers would take the third set and series 25-14.
Fitzpatrick led the Colonels with eight kills and 14 digs in the series. Carroll had five kills, with Murie, Hines, and Jessica Salus (Shavertown, PA/Lake Lehman) all tying in third with three kills. Cassel added 17 assists in the series, with Gentzel earning four service aces.
The second series Wilkes played in was against Marywood. The first set saw the Pacers take the momentum early, going up 12-5. Wilkes would respond by scoring six straight points, with Carroll service aces and Fitzpatrick kill to cut the Marywood lead 12-11. Each team would go on their own runs, making the contest 17-15. Fitzpatrick would add two more kills during that stretch. Both teams would keep the contest close, as the Colonels would make the contest 22-21 before Marywood would get three straight points and take the first set 25-21.
The second set saw Wilkes keep up with Marywood, being behind 8-7 with a Carroll kill, back-to-back Gentzel service aces, and a block from Ousey and Hines. The Pacers would score eight straight points and taking a 16-7 lead. Neither team would get more than two straight points down the stretch as Marywood would take the second set 25-16.
The third set began with Marywood trying to finish the series as they would jump out in front and take an early 11-5 lead over Wilkes. The Colonels would slowly make their way back into the game, cutting into the Marywood lead to make it 15-11 with Carroll and Alexis Reedy (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra Area) kills. Both teams would get four straight points and switching momentum, as Marywood would have a 22-17 lead. Wilkes would go on a 6-1 run behind Ali Yordy (Fairfield, PA/Fairfield Area) and Gentzel service aces and kills from Cassel, Reedy, and Ousey to tie the game at 23-23. The Pacers would not be denied, earning the last two points to take the third set and series 25-23.
Fitzpatrick led the Colonels with nine kills, with Carroll and Reedy earning four apiece. Cassel had 17 assists and eight digs to lead Wilkes. Hines had three blocks on the day, with Cassel and Murie following suit with two of their own.
Wilkes returns to Marts Center this Tuesday as they host King's College in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) competition at 7:00 p.m.
