CALDWELL, N.J. — Sophomore hitter Marley Rudolph (Hampstead, Md.) had a team-best 11 kills and freshman setter/MB Jasmine Johnson (Rahway, N.J.) flipped 11 assists as Caldwell University volleyball pushed a strong Mercy University squad before falling, 25-23, 25-14, 25-16 at the George R. Newman Center in non-league action on Wednesday evening.
Caldwell got off to a strong start, establishing an 18-14 lead with a 6-2 run that included kills by freshman MB Sarah Ojo (Richmond, Texas) and soph hitter Kaybri Lowry (Davidson, N.C.). CU (3-14) later used a 4-1 run, with three kills by Rudolph, for a 23-19 lead. But the Mavericks (13-1) would score the next six points to close out the most competitive of the three sets.
Ojo finished with seven kills and three blocks, junior Grace Moliterno (Chester, N.Y.) had 10 assists and freshman DS Bianca Chiarella (Passaic, N.J.) had a team-high eight digs.
The Cougars return to CACC play with a matchup at Holy Family on Saturday in Philadelphia.
