CHARLESTON, S.C. – With seven seniors being honored for their service to the program prior to the game, College of Charleston volleyball rolled UNC Wilmington at TD Arena on Friday night, 3-0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-20).
One of the best defensive teams in the country, the Cougars put forth one of strongest team efforts of the season against the Seahawks – holding the visitors to a -.024 team hitting percentage. Libero Andi Zbojniewicz celebrated senior night with 19 digs while setter Kallie McKown notched her CAA leading 20th double-double of the season. Sloane White also reached double digit digs (13) to accompany her 11 kills. Fellow upperclassman Catey Warren tied a career-high with six blocks.
Offensively it was junior Melissa Morello who led the way with 12 kills, while Cara Howley racked up nine of her own, hitting .471 for the match.
The Cougars fell behind early in game one, trailing by as many as four following a Cougar attack error. Great defensive work from Zbojniewicz and back-to-back kills from Howley and White brought the Cougars level at 9-9, but the Seahawks again managed to pull ahead, claiming a 22-19 lead late after a kill from Meredith Peacock. After a thumping putaway from Howley, the Cougars forced the Seahawks in to back-to-back errors tying the match at 24-24. Another kill from Howley then gave the hosts a set point, before a UNCW error closed out the game.
After a straight forward 25-17 second set win, the Cougars fell behind by as many as seven early in the third game. Down 10-3, the Cougars stuck to their guns and managed to regain control of the set, rattling off 14 of the next 23 points to tie the game at 17 apiece. While the hosts continued to press, the Seahawks were just looking to stay alive and force a fourth frame, but fantastic offensive work from McKown and Morello, as well as three late UNCW attack errors closed out the game and the match, 25-20.
With the win, the Cougars remain atop the conference standings in a tie with Hofstra. While the Pride still hold the tiebreaker, the two teams are slated to meet once more in both programs' regular season finale on Friday, Nov. 14 in Hempstead, N.Y.
Next up for The College is a Saturday evening matchup at TD Arena with conference newcomers, Elon. First serve is set for 5:00 p.m.
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