PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Caldwell University volleyball team closed out the regular season with a four-set loss to USciences, 21-25, 27-25, 25-12, 25-21 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match Saturday afternoon at Morgan Arena. The Cougars are now 20-10 overall and 14-5 in conference play to finish in a tie with Post University for first place in the CACC North Division. The Devils end their season with a seven-match winning streak to finish 9-17 overall and 6-13 in the CACC.

Freshman outside hitter Taryn Auyong (Honolulu, HI/Kamehameha) led Caldwell with 16 kills to go with 10 digs, while sophomore outside hitter Rachael DiLeonardo (West Chester, OH/Mount Notre Dame) added 12 kills, 21 digs and three total blocks. Senior setter Athena Nestoras (Los Angeles, CA/St. Monica) tallied seven kills, 23 assists and 11 digs, with freshman setter Gabrielle Bennett (San Antonio, TX/Johnson) dishing out 18 assists. Defensively, junior middle blocker Kelsey Blankerts (Sylvania, OH/Southview) notched six blocks to go with six kills, and senior libero Jaclyn Del Cid (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) had 25 digs. Desirae Lair led all players with 22 kills for USciences.

Caldwell, which has won the CACC North Division in six of the past seven years, wins the tie-breaker with Post and will be the top seed from the North in the CACC Tournament.

The Cougars will host Holy Family University in the quarterfinals of the CACC Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The match starts at 7:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.

CU – 25 25 14 21
USci – 21 27 25 25