WATERBURY, Conn. – The Caldwell College volleyball team won a five-set match at Post University, 25-21, 18-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-13 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match Wednesday night in the Drubner Center. The Cougars improve to 12-9 overall and 5-2 in league play, while the Eagles drop to 5-10, 4-3 CACC.

Caldwell received five kills from senior outside hitter Susan McDonough (Saline, MI/Saline) and four kills from junior right side Kate Blankerts (Sylvania, OH/Southview) in the first set en route to a 25-21 win. After losing the second set, the Cougars took a 2-1 lead with a 25-19 win, buoyed by five kills from freshman outside hitter Rachael DiLeonardo (Cincinnati, OH/Mt. Notre Dame) and four from freshman middle blocker Kelsey Blankerts (Sylvania, OH/Southview). But the Eagles won the fourth set, 25-19 to force a deciding fifth set.

Caldwell took leads of 4-1, 10-6 and 14-10, setting up match point. But Post scored the next three points to pull within one, 14-13. On the next point, DiLeonardo put down her team-leading 16th kill of the match to wrap up the victory for the Cougars, who have won their past three matches.

DiLeonardo also hit .342, committing just three attack errors against 16 kills in 38 attempts. McDonough finished with 14 kills and 15 digs, Kate Blankerts tallied 11 kills and junior middle blocker Kasey Bausch (Bellmore, NY/Holy Trinity) notched nine kills and four blocks. Junior setter Lisa Roth (Gilbert, AZ/Williams Field) paced the offense with 50 assists, while sophomore Jaclyn Del Cid (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) and senior Maddy Amon (Louisville, KY/Bishop Moore) led the defense with 29 and 16 digs, respectively. Kelli Reynolds led all players with 19 kills.

Caldwell takes on Philadelphia University on Saturday, Oct. 6 at home as a part of Caldwell College's homecoming festivities. The match starts at 2:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.

CC (3) - 25 18 25 19 15
PU (2) - 21 25 19 25 13