DALLAS, PA – The Wilkes University women's volleyball began a stretch of four matches over two days on Friday evening at the Cougar Clash hosted by Misericordia University at the Anderson Sports Center by dropping two matches. The Colonels lost a 3-1 (25-14, 17-25, 25-13, 25-21) contest to the host Cougars before falling 3-0 to Wentworth Institute of Technology (25-11, 25-7, 25-9).

Wilkes stands at 3-4 overall after Friday's action while Misericordia improved to 7-3 overall and Wentworth went to 6-1 with their victories.

The Colonels took on local rival Misericordia in the opening match, falling behind 14-6 in the first set. Wilkes responded with the next four points as Alexis Reedy (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra Area) collected two kills and Hope Ousey (Exton, PA/Henderson) one. The Cougars would put the set away with eight straight points to earn a large lead and take the set 25-14.

Wilkes earned an early 6-3 lead in the second set following four straight points on a block by Sierra Hines (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Holy Redeemer) and Nicole Fitzpatrick (New Hampton, NY/Minisink Valley), two aces by Ousey, and a kill by Alexa Cassel (Mount Joy, PA/Lower Dauphin). After the Cougars went ahead 10-9 the Colonels answered back with an 11-0 run. Cassel had four aces during the run while Allie Murie (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest), Reedy, and Ousey each collected a kill. With the 20-10 lead the Colonels were able to cruise to the second set victory at 25-17 as Ali Yordy (Fairfield, PA/Fairfield Area) finished the set with an ace.

Misericordia was able to build an early 7-2 lead in the third set and were able to go ahead 2-1 in the match with a 25-13 win.

The Cougars led 9-6 after the early points of the fourth set but the Blue and Gold were able to take the lead using a 6-0 run helped by five Misericordia errors. After a kill by Ousey the Colonels still held a 16-13 lead. A three-point stretch of errors by the Cougars put Wilkes ahead 21-17 but Misericordia finished with an 8-0 run to win the set 25-21 and take the match in four.

Ousey led Wilkes with nine kills while Reedy added eight. Cassel had 18 assists and four aces while Ousey and Reedy added three aces each. Ousey led Wilkes at the net with three total blocks and Yordy led the back row defense with 11 digs.

Fiona Pyfer led Misericordia with 20 kills and Jenna Schuda had 36 assists. Sarah Kelly had four blocks while Schuda and Meghan Peters each had 11 digs. Jessica Cleveland, Cassandra Gendusa, and Peters each had four aces.

In the second match of the evening the Colonels took on Wentworth Institute of Technology from Boston, Mass. Wilkes hung close with the Leopards in the first set as the Colonels trailed 10-9 following a Cassel kill. A 12-1 run by Wentworth pushed their lead to 22-10 as they took set one 25-11.

The next two sets were controlled by the Leopards as they started on 8-0 and 5-0 runs. Wentworth took set two 25-7 and the third 25-9.

Ousey led Wilkes with five kills. Cassel had seven assists. Hines and Cassel each had one ace and one block. Yordy and Ousey led the Colonels with nine digs.

Emma Sanders led Wentworth with nine kills and added six aces while Olivia Vaughn had 21 assists and seven aces. Kate McLane led Wentworth with eight digs and Sanders and Riley Schoonmaker each had two blocks.

Wilkes looks to stop a four-match losing skid tomorrow during a tri-match in Camden, N.J. The Colonels face Penn State Harrisburg at 2:00 p.m. and the host Rutgers-Camden at 4:00 p.m.