Wilkes Women's Volleyball Splits Home Tri-Match Against Penn State Altoona and Bard College
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes women's volleyball team splits against Penn State Altoona and Bard College Saturday afternoon. The Colonels fell to the Lions 3-0 and bested the Raptors 3-1.
After the set of games, Wilkes moved to 10-6 overall, while the Lions improved to 6-8 and the Raptors fell to 3-11.
Game 1 vs Penn State Altoona
The Colonels dropped game one of the day to Penn State Altoona in straight sets, 25-13, 25-21, and 25-22. The Lions led in total kills with 44 compared to Wilkes' 25 for the match, while also pushing across nine service aces with Wilkes only able to record six. At the net, the Colonels out-blocked the Lions 5 to 4.
Leading the offense for Wilkes was Mia Leon (Ponce, PR/Caribbean) and Abby Dornblaser (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) each recording 7 kills. Leon put a wall for the Colonels recording four blacks. Rachael Anderson (Canmore, AB/West Island College) led the team in assists recording 11, and Maddy Durfee (Buffalo, NY/Attica) was just behind her with 8 assists. Allyson Gates (Margate, FL/Coral Springs Charter) and Ally Sheridan (Hanover Township, PA/Hanover Area) led the passing game with 16 digs and 13 digs respectively.
Game 2 vs. Bard College
Wilkes bested Bard College in game two of the day winning three sets to one set. The Colonels dominated the service line recording 16 aces compared to 7 for the Raptors for the match.
In set one, Wilkes jumped to an early 7-1 lead with Ava Wahlers (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport), Gates, and Anderson each recording a kill in the run. The Colonels extended their lead as they put up a 10-0 run with Leon putting up three service aces and Dornblaser recording two kills. Leon finished the set, 25-12, with a kill.
The Colonels opened set two taking the lead, but the Raptors stayed close behind. Late in the set, Bard went on the attack with a 4-1 and 6-1 run and took set two, 25-23.
The Colonels swung momentum back into their favor in set three taking a 10-4 lead with five kills from multiple Wilkes players. A 5-1 and 4-1 run from the navy and gold extended them to a set three win with a score of 25-15. The Colonels out hit the Raptors .333 to .000.
In set four, Bard took an early lead (8-4) determined to push the match to the deciding set, but Wilkes shut down the Raptors with a 10-1 run. Bard pushed back, coming within one point (15-16), but the Colonels refused to give up the lead and finished the set 25-21.
Leon was a triple threat for Wilkes, leading the Colonels in kills (16), blocks (3), and aces (5), a season high. Annalyse Santowasso (Middlesex, NJ/Rutgers Prep) led the defense with 20 digs and Anderson recorded 35 assists.
The Colonels return to action on Tuesday, September 30, where they face Marywood University at 7:00p.m. at the Marts Center.
