NEW CASTLE, Del. - With a four-set victory over Wilmington University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match on Saturday, the Caldwell College volleyball team wrapped up first place in the CACC North Division for the third consecutive year. The Cougars, who also defeated Lincoln University 3-0 as part of a tri-match at Wilmington's Pratt Gymnasium, are now 19-7 overall and 15-2 in the conference with two league matches remaining.
In the CACC match with the host Wildcats, Caldwell surrendered the final three points of the first set to fall 25-22. The Cougars regrouped in the second set and took the last three points for a 25-21 win to tie the match at 1-1. The third set was a close battle, with 21 ties and seven lead changes. With the score knotted at 26-26, a Wilmington attack error and a kill from sophomore outside hitter Susan McDonough (Saline, MI/Saline) gave Caldwell the set and a 2-1 lead. McDonough, junior middle blocker Titilola Alao (Ossining, NY/Ossining) and freshman middle blocker Kasey Bausch (Bellmore, NY/Holy Trinity) had five kills apiece as the Cougars totaled 21 kills in the set. The Cougars cruised in the fourth set, getting three kills each from senior outside hitter Cory Roesing (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) and sophomore right side Amber Mosher (Flanders, NJ/Mount Olive) en route to a decisive 25-14 win.
Alao turned in a match-high 15 kills to go with three solo blocks and a .393 hitting percentage, while junior setter Lauren Roth (Findlay, OH/Findlay) dished out 51 assists. Mosher finished with 12 kills, and Bausch notched 11 kills and three total blocks. Defensively, sophomore libero Maddy Amon (Louisville, KY/Bishop Moore) registered 26 digs and Roesing had 16 digs. Brittany Biddle paced Wilmington (18-11, 12-5 CACC) with 11 kills.
Against Lincoln (4-25), the Cougars dominated the first set, hitting .455 en route to a 25-10 win. The second set was much closer, with Lincoln tying the score at 21-21 before Caldwell tallied four of the final five points for a 25-22 victory. The Cougars took control right away in the third set, scoring 18 of the first 19 points to roll to a 25-14 win and the sweep. Senior outside hitter Justine Pecora (Clifton, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic Acad.) led Caldwell with eight kills. Caldwell recorded 12 service aces, including five from junior outside hitter Elise Lennon (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) and four by senior defensive specialist Kathleen Estes (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst), pictured.
Next up for the Cougars is a CACC match at Concordia College on Thursday, Nov. 4, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Bronxville, N.Y.
CC - 22 25 28 25
WU - 25 21 26 14
CC - 25 25 25
LU - 10 22 14
