RICHMOND, Indiana - The Wilmington College women's volleyball team dropped a four-set match to Earlham College in the Quaker Bowl Rivalry, falling 25-6, 20-25, 25-14, 25-9 on Friday evening. In the second match, Indiana University-Southeast defeated the Fightin' Quakers 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-17).
In the loss to Earlham, Wilmington did not hit a positive attack percentage in any of the three sets it lost, finishing with just three kills in each of those sets. Earlham, on the other hand, put down nine kills on 15 attack attempts and zero errors for a .600 attack percentage and 25-6 set one victory.
In set two, Wilmington got out to an 8-4 lead thanks to several Earlham attack errors and back-to-back kills from Jillian Wesco and Karrah Wind. After an Earlham timeout, the hosts got to within two points (15-13), but two kills from Taylor McCuiston and one from Wesco along with two Earlham attack errors spurred a 9-3 run for Wilmington, giving the visitors set multiple set points. Earlham would fight off two of those set points, but a service error gave Wilmington the set victory and tied the match 1-1.
Unfortunately, Wilmington never regained its offfensive prowess from the second set. After hitting a .242 clip and holding Earlham to a .175 attack percentage in that game, Wilmington committed 10 attack errors in set three and six in set four. Earlham returned to its form of the first set, pounding down 16 kills in set three and hitting a .308 clip in set four to earn the victory.
Wesco led Wilmington offensively with 10 kills while Taylor McCuistion had four. Alyssa McKenzie dished out nine assists whiel Karley Schlensker had 14 digs.
Earlham featured a balanced scoring attack that was led by Abbey Zanatta with nine kills and just one error on 18 swings. Ashleigh Burton followed with eight kills on 13 attack attempts.. Lauren Jackson dished out a match-high 37 assists.
In the loss to IU-Southeast, Wind led Wilmington with eight kills on 22 attack attempts with just one error (.318 attack percentage). Meghan Koch added three kills on seven swings. Setter Jacie Koontz dished out 11 assists while Schlensker had a season-high 20 digs.
The duo of Alyssa Cosgrove and Monica Loftus combiend for 19 kills for IU-Southeast. The 6-2 setting attack of Hannah Sipe and Cosgrove dished out 31 assists.
Wilmington has a quick turnaround as it faces Boyce College and Crowley's Ridge College tomorrow (Saturday) at 10 a.m. and noon respectively.
