ASTON, PA – A late third-set rally for the Wilkes University women's volleyball team fell just short of extending the match as the Colonels dropped their non-conference matchup with Neumann University 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-22) Wednesday night.
 
The loss dropped Wilkes to 7-9 on the season while Neumann improved their record to 12-7 overall.
 
The Knights jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first set before Sierra Hines (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Holy Redeemer) stopped their momentum with her first kill of the night. Hope Ousey (Exton, PA/Henderson) kept it going for the Colonels with back-to-back service aces and a kill to bring the score to 11-7 in favor of Neumann. The teams would trade points later on in the set, but the Knights would ultimately take the first set 25-13.
 
Neumann opened the second set with a strong 6-1 performance before a service error for the Knights and an Emily Gentzel (Yaphank, NY/Bellport) service ace would cut the Wilkes deficit to three points. Neumann responded with six consecutive points to extend their lead before Ousey would break the scoring streak with a kill of her own. Nicole Fitzpatrick (New Hampton, NY/Minisink Valley) gave the Colonels life in the ladder stage of the second set with a shot that grazed a Neumann player's hand before dropping to the court for a Wilkes kill. Neumann would rattle off three more points to close out the set with a score of 25-12 for the Knights.
 
Wilkes entered the third set looking to stay alive in the contest. The Knights once again came out of the gate with intensity, taking an early 5-1 lead. Hines and Ousey stopped the Neumann run with a combined block, slowly turning the tides in the Colonels' favor. Three straight kills by Ousey and Fitzpatrick tied the set at six points each. Fitzpatrick came up large for Wilkes once again later in the set with two kills and a service ace, cutting the Knights' lead to 13-9. Ali Yordy (Fairfield, PA/Fairfield Area) and Ally Sheridan (Hanover Township, PA/Hanover Area) helped the Colonels tie the set with four consecutive points before a combined block from Hines and Alexa Cassel (Mount Joy, PA/Lower Dauphin) gave Wilkes their first lead of the match, 14-13. Both teams would remain locked in a tight battle for the remainder of the set, however Neumann would eventually finish the match with a kill.
 
Fitzpatrick and Ousey spearheaded the Wilkes attack with six kills each, while Cassel assisted on 13 points. Yordy and Fitzpatrick both recorded eight digs on the night. The Colonels' defense was supported by Hines with two blocks.

Neumann's attack was led by Regan Hickey and Lauren Garvey, who had 13 and 10 kills respectively. Garvey also registered 28 assists as Katela Villasenor collected three service aces. On the defensive side, Hickey made 11 digs for the Knights.
 
The Colonels continue their five-game road stretch on Friday with a visit to Lycoming College for their inaugural Landmark Conference tilt against the Warriors at 7:00 p.m.