Fast start fizzles for @DubC_Volleyball

< Alyssa McKenzie > (Wilmington photo/Randy Sarvis)
< Alyssa McKenzie > (Wilmington photo/Randy Sarvis)

The Wilmington College volleyball team started well, but ultimately fell to Earlham, 3-1 (25-15, 20-25, 25-5, 25-17) Wednesday in non-conference action at Fred Raizk Arena in Hermann Court.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Wilmington hit .375 in the first set, and .250 in the second set, with only four errors combined as it entered the third set tied at one. However, they committed seven errors in the third set alone as the Quakers seized control of the match.
  • Earlham tallied the first 16 points of the third set, and finished the game by scoring nine of the final 14 points.
  • Freshman Ariel Goforth (Memphis, TN/Bartlett) led the team with nine kills on 26 attempts, while freshman Jillian Wesco (Troy, OH/Miami East) added seven kills on 21 attempts.
  • Wesco totaled a team-high 12 digs, while Goforth added eight digs and sophomore Amber Rox (Lawrenceburg, IN/Lawrenceburg) finished with seven digs
  • The setting tandem of freshman Lauryn Griewahn (Adrian, MI/Adrian) and sophomore Alyssa McKenzie (Adrian, MI/Adrian) combined for 22 assists.
  • Sophomore Meghan Koch (Fayetteville, OH/Fayetteville Perry) finished with two block assists, and freshman Hannah Salyers (Monroe, OH/Monroe) added a solo block and a block assist.
  • It's Earlham's first win in the Quaker Bowl series, but Wilmington still holds a 3-1 lead.

COACHES CORNER

"I thought we played well in the first two sets and executed the plan we initially came in with, and went into the third set tied, as I expected," said Wilmington head coach Tim O'Brien. "We struggled to overcome the fact they figured out what we were trying to do, and making changes on the fly. Once we got out of our game plan, we struggled implementing on the fly. I am looking forward to the weekend. We can build on this loss, overcome our errors from tonight and learn from (the errors)."

WHAT'S NEXT

Wilmington (3-9 overall) will host UC-Clermont 7 p.m. Friday in non-conference action.