CALDWELL, N.J. – The Caldwell University volleyball team played an exciting Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match with Philadelphia University, winning 3-2 Saturday afternoon in the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars, who won by the scores of 25-15, 25-23, 26-28, 20-25, 17-15, improve to 19-9 overall and 13-4 in the conference with the victory. The Rams drop to 13-14, 10-7 CACC.

Caldwell won the first two sets, hitting .262 compared to .075 for Philadelphia. Seniors Erica Harrell (Richardson, TX/Plano East) and Athena Nestoras (Los Angeles, CA/St. Monica) each had four kills in the first set, while freshman middle blocker Narae Wadsworth (Reno, NV/Wooster) tallied six kills in the second set. The Cougars trailed 14-11 in the third set before battling back to take a 24-20 lead and sit on the verge of sweeping the match. But Philadelphia registered three straight kills en route to five consecutive points for a 25-24 advantage. Caldwell created its fifth match point by winning the next two points, only to have the Rams take the final three points and the set.

In the fourth set, Philadelphia notched 19 kills compared to nine for Caldwell in a 25-20 win that forced a fifth set. The Cougars rebounded in the final set and took an 11-6 lead. Again the Rams fought back by scoring the next six points to lead 12-11. A pair of kills by Terra Ecker helped Philadelphia move one point away from victory at 14-13, but an attack error and a service ace from freshman Jessica Mitchell (Plainfield, IL/Neuqua Valley) gave Caldwell match point, 15-14. A service error tied the score at 15-15, but back-to-back kills by Nestoras and sophomore outside hitter Rachael DiLeonardo (Cincinnati, OH/Mount Notre Dame) gave the Cougars a 17-15 victory and the match.

Nestoras registered a triple-double with 18 kills, 21 assists and 12 digs while hitting .444 to lead Caldwell. Wadsworth finished with 12 kills and four total blocks, and freshman outside hitter Taryn Auyong (Honolulu, HI/Kamehameha) added 11 kills and 11 digs. Freshman setter Gabrielle Bennett (San Antonio, TX/Johnson) contributed 27 assists and 11 digs. Leading the defense was senior libero Jaclyn Del Cid (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) and DiLeonardo with 17 and 16 digs, respectively. Ecker had a match-high 21 kills and eight total blocks to pace the Rams.

Caldwell plays a key CACC North Division match at Bloomfield College on Wednesday, Nov. 5. The first serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Bloomfield, N.J.

CU – 25 25 26 20 17
PU –15 23 28 25 15