LAKEWOOD, N.J. – The Caldwell University volleyball team defeated Wilmington University, 3-1 in the semifinals of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Friday afternoon at the GCU Wellness Center. The Cougars (22-10), who won by the scores of 25-15, 25-13, 15-25, 25-11, will play Post University for the CACC championship on Saturday, Nov. 15.

This is the third time in five years that Caldwell will be playing in the CACC championship match, having won titles in 2010 and 2011.

The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead by tallying 15 kills and holding the Wildcats (20-14) to a .000 hitting percentage in a 25-15 win. Senior setter Athena Nestoras (Los Angeles, CA/St. Monica) and freshman outside hitter Taryn Auyong (Honolulu, HI/Kamehameha) delivered five kills apiece. The second set was more of the same, with Wilmington hitting -.091 and Auyong putting down four kills in a 25-13 triumph.

Wilmington got back into the match in the third set with 18 kills and a .356 hitting percentage in a 25-15 win. But Caldwell would not be denied in the fourth set, building a 13-5 advantage early and leading by as many as 14 to clinch with a 25-11 victory. Senior right side Erica Harrell (Richardson, TX/Plano East), sophomore outside hitter Rachael DiLeonardo (West Chester, OH/Mount Notre Dame) and freshman middle blocker Narae Wadsworth (Reno, NV/Wooster) each had three kills in the final set. The Cougars defense limited the Wildcats to 36 kills and a .067 hitting percentage for the match.

Nestoras notched her third triple-double of the season with a team-high 14 kills, 17 assists and 12 digs. Auyong finished with 13 kills and 13 digs, with DiLeonardo registering 12 kills and 20 digs. Freshman setter Gabrielle Bennett (San Antonio, TX/Johnson) contributed 25 assists, and senior libero Jaclyn Del Cid (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) had 16 digs. Alex Siolos led Wilmington with nine kills.

The Cougars will face Post University in the finals of the CACC Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 12:00 p.m. in the GCU Wellness Center. The Eagles defeated host Georgian Court in three sets to advance to the program's first CACC final, which will feature two CACC North teams for the first time since the league went to divisions in 2007.

CU – 25 25 15 25
WU – 15 13 25 11

2014 CACC Volleyball Tournament
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Nov. 11
N1 Caldwell 3, S4 Holy Family 1
S2 Wilmington 3, N3 Dominican 0
S1 Georgian Court 3, N4 Bloomfield 2
N2 Post 3, S3 Philadelphia 0

Semifinals – Friday, Nov. 14 (Georgian Court, Lakewood, N.J.)
N2 Post 3, S1 Georgian Court 0
N1 Caldwell 3, S2 Wilmington 1

Finals – Saturday, Nov. 15 (Georgian Court, Lakewood, N.J.)
N1 Caldwell vs. N2 Post, 12:00 p.m.