WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The West Chester women's volleyball team (18-8) returned to action at home on Tuesday night in its final non-league match of the year against local rival Wilmington (13-14). West Chester battled throughout the match, including a first set, which included 15 ties and nine lead changes but Wilmington escaped with a 3-0 (31-29, 25-18, 25-21) victory over the Golden Rams.
The Golden Rams opened the set with a quick 7-1 run, including a 6-0 run to force an early Wilmington timeout. Following the Wilmington timeout, the visiting Wildcats battled back into the match, evening the score at 12-12 before trading points with the Golden Rams to hold a 22-21 lead late in the first set, and prompt a WCU timeout. West Chester came out of the break with a quick 2-0 run to take a 23-22 lead and prompt Wilmington's second timeout of the first set. In what had become a set of short runs, Wilmington went on a 2-0 run of its own to take a 24-23 lead and prompt the second WCU timeout of the first set. The two sides continued to trade points before Wilmington eventually claimed the opening set by a 31-29 final to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Following a script similar to the first set, West Chester and Wilmington traded points throughout much of the opening part of the set before Wilmington went on a mid-set run to take a 17-13 lead and prompt the first Golden Ram timeout of the set. Following the timeout, Wilmington continued to build upon its early lead, eventually rolling to a 25-18 second set victory and a 2-0 lead in the match behind a .306 second-set hitting performance.
Wilmington opened the third set with a 12-6 run, which led to an early West Chester timeout. West Chester started to fight back in the third set, making it a 14-17 set, which led to a quick Wilmington timeout in an attempt to halt the Golden Ram momentum. Following the timeout, West Chester continued its comeback bid, closing the gap to 20-19, which prompted the second Wilmington timeout of the set. Following the second timeout, Wilmington closed out the match on a 5-2 run to take a 25-21 third set victory and 3-0 win in the match.
Tori Wright (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion) led the way in kills with 16 while
Jamie Byrne (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) posted a team-high 21 assists in the setback.
Ali Miller (Enola, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the way in digs with eight while Byrne finished with seven of her own in the setback.
For Wilmington, Heather Pedrick and Kacey Affrunti tied for the team lead in kills with 13 and 13 each while Katie Bushong posted a match-best 39 assists in the victory over the Golden Rams.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action on Friday evening vs East Stroudsburg before hosting Kutztown on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon.
