NEWARK, Del. --- The College of Charleston volleyball team fell to Delaware in a four-set slugfest on Sunday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association play despite career performances from juniors
Lexi Wierzbicki and
Gabi Bailey and freshman
Tynley Smeltzer.
Delaware (11-10, 6-6 CAA) won the match by scores of 26-24, 25-20, 19-25 and 25-22 to pull even with Charleston (13-10, 6-6 CAA) in the CAA standings. The Blue Hens finished the match with 61 kills, nine blocks and a .240 hitting percentage compared to 54 kills, 10 blocks and a .234 clip for the Cougars.
Critical Point
With the Cougars holding a 17-15 lead in the fourth set, the Blue Hens capitalized on an errant serve and strung together a 9-5 spurt over the ensuing few minutes to quell the rally and close out the match with a 25-22 win in the frame.
Key Cougars
- Bailey set two career-highs with 18 kills and seven blocks while equaling her personal-best with 16 digs in perhaps her best performance of the season.
- Wierzbicki turned in a highlight showing of her own with a match- and career-high 23 kills while hitting .352. She accounted for 13 of her kills in the opening two sets including seven in the first frame.
- Smeltzer got the nod at libero and turned in a sensational effort with a match- and season-high 23 digs to go along with six assists. Seven of her 23 digs came in the opening frame.
- Freshman Jasmin Goei recorded a double-double with 22 assists and 14 digs.
Game Notes
- The Cougars accounted for 32 of their 54 kills with 16 each in the first and third frames while hitting above .270 in both of those sets.
- Charleston limited Delaware to only six service aces. The Blue Hens entered the weekend ranked second in the nation averaging 2.20 aces per set.
- Lani Mason and Savannah Seemans paced Delaware with 21 and 20 kills, respectively.
- Claire Campbell continued her strong blocking run with six on the day.
Up Next
The Cougars will return to the court on Saturday, Nov. 6 against Northeastern following their bye week. First serve against the Huskies is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the Cabot Center in Boston, Mass.