Today: Mar 28, 2024

Vollyball scores 10th home victory

Morgan DouglasSports Editor

Volleyball split their two home games this past Sunday. The Owls dropped their early game against the American International College Yellow Jackets and defeated the Wilmington University Wildcats. 

Sunday’s defeat in three straight sets marked the second time the Owls lost to AIC this year, and only the second time the team has lost at home in Pelz Gym on the season, where they are at 10-2. 

They were able to bounce back in their afternoon matchup with the Wildcats, winning in four sets and moving their record on the season to 15-6. 

“I’m really happy that we pulled out this win,” Outside hitter Lillee Olson, a senior, said. “Whatever happened this morning, it’s in the past, we’re going to learn from it, we’re going to move on to next week.” 

Early on, it was not easy. The first set saw 13 tie scores and eight lead changes, with the Owls ultimately losing the set 25-22. 

From that point, the Owls clearly made an adjustment, as the Wildcats never got a lead in the second set, and the Owls took care of business, winning 25-16. 

“We just came more together as a team and figured out what worked and their weaknesses in order to execute on offense and we got it done,” Outside hitter Kacey Deecher, a sophomore, said. 

Deecher had three kills in the second set. She was on her way to a career best performance. Setter Taylor Jones, a sophomore had eight assists in the set. She would reach a career milestone later in the game. 

Early in the third set, middle hitter, Abigail Epstein, a graduate student, sent the ball over the net for a kill which left three Wildcats on the ground, tying it at seven apiece. 

Epstein led the Owls with four kills in the third set, on their way to another 25-16 win. Deecher had two kills, a service ace and five digs in the set, stuffing the stat sheet. The Owls bench was chanting the names of their teammates as they made big plays. 

“I love it,” Deecher said. “It’s my favorite part.” 

In the fourth set, Jones assisted Deecher for the kill to tie the score at 15. Jones then assisted Epstein to give the Owls the lead and they never looked back. 

The Owls won the set 25-17 and won the match three sets to one. Jones had nine assists in the set, 27 assists for the game and reached the 500-assist milestone for her college career. 

“That’s cool. I’m excited about it. I didn’t even know that I was close to that,” Jones said with a smile. “I feel really accomplished. I couldn’t do it without the hitters and passers. It’s a team effort. I’m really glad they helped me get to that accomplishment.” 

Deecher had her first career double-double by setting career highs in kills with 10 and digs with 13. 

“I had no clue until you guys told me,” Deecher said. “It’s very exciting. I hope to move forward and up from there. It’s a good start.” 

The Owls’ next volleyball game is Tuesday, Oct. 12, against Mercy College in Pelz Gym. A team they have defeated the last nine times they have played dating back to 2007. A good opportunity to build on this season’s success and make a deep playoff run. 

“I want to win it,” Jones said. “We have a lot of seniors, and this is the year and I want to do it now and have no regrets. This is the year in my opinion, I want to do it now.” 

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