ASTON - The Wilkes University women's volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season to the Neumann University Knights 3-0 on Wednesday evening.

The first set started well for the Colonels as they scored the first two points off a Kendra Kalp (Somerset, PA/Rockwood) ace and an Ally Sheridan (Hanover Township, PA/Hanover Area) kill, but the Knights scored eight of the next nine points to take an early 8-3 lead. The Colonels kept pace for a while to keep it a five-point game at 17-12 before going on a 6-0 run to take the lead behind the trio of Mia Leon (Ponce, PR/Caribbean), Abby Dornblaser (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown), and Ava Wahlers (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport). Out of a timeout, Wilkes found themselves trailing once again 22-20 and scored back-to-back points to tie it up. However, Neumann closed out the set with three points in a row to win it 25-22 and take a 1-0 set lead.

Neumann kept that momentum going at the start of set two. They jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Wilkes began to chip away at the deficit. The Colonels went on a 9-5 run to make it a one-point game, but the Knights followed that up with a 9-2 run of their own to make it 19-11. That hole was too big to climb out of for the Colonels as they dropped the set 25-17 and trailed 2-0.

Looking to avoid a sweep, the Colonels scored the first point of set three on a block from Sheridan and Emilee Atherholt (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport). However, the Knights scored the next six points and went on a 12-3 run overall to lead 12-4. Wilkes did stay within striking distance afterwards as it was 16-12 and 23-20 late in the set, but Neumann stayed in control all the way through to win the final set 25-20 and win the match.

Leon led the Colonels with eight kills and finished with eight digs as well. Dornblaser and Sheridan each finished with six kills, with Sheridan also racking up seven digs. Kalp led the team in assists with 23, and Annalyse Santowasso (Middlesex, NJ/Rutgers Prep) led the team in digs with 13. 

As for Neumann, Bri Gautier and Julia Solomon both led the team in kills with nine each. Melissa Eddy finished with seven kills and led the Knights in digs with 11. Kyla Sayson led the Knights in assists with 17, but Liv Bowers finished right behind her with 12 assists.

The Colonels drop to 2-1 on the season and return to the court this Saturday on Sept. 6 for another tri-match at the Marts Center. Their first match of the day is against Delaware Valley University at 11 a.m. and their second match is against John Jay College at 3 p.m.