(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Deah Menedis (So., Reisterstown, Md. / Franklin) had a career day with 30 kills to help Wilson win its second-straight match in come-from-behind fashion with a five set thriller against St. Elizabeth. After they dropped the opening set, the Phoenix came back to win sets 2, 3 and 5 to secure the win.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 3, St. Elizabeth 2 (21-25, 25-16, 25-20, 23=25, 15-13)
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 3-17, 3-2; St. Elizabeth 5-13, 2-3
How It Happened
- The first game set the tone of the afternoon as both teams battled it out in the early stages. Neither team could string together more than three points until Wilson went on a 5-0 run bookended by a pair of Menedis kills to take a 16-13 lead. Although it appeared momentum was in favor of Wilson, the Eagles managed to get back in the set and closed on a 10-3 run.
- A 6-1 run gave Wilson the lead for good in the second set as the Phoenix took the most decisive game of the day. Menedis started the rally with a kill followed by an ace from Allyson Garcelon (Fy., Shrewsbury, Pa. / Susquehannock). After an Eagles point, another pair of Menedis kills followed by a pair of St. Elizabeth errors gave Wilson a 10-7 lead. The Eagles strung together two points just once the rest of the way, but after that Wilson closed the game with a 5-1 run to even the match.
- Another 5-1 run in the third set gave the Phoenix an 18-13 lead, but the Eagles made the Phoenix work to get the win. The visitors stayed within three at 22-19 before a pair of serving errors sandwiched around a Niki Schussler (So., Chambersburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley Christian) kill gave Wilson a 2-1 lead.
- Hoping to take the win in the fourth, Wilson had to wait as the Eagles came back from a 17-12 deficit. A 7-0 run set St. Elizabeth up at 24-20 before Wilson answered with a pair of Schussler kills and an Eagles, error, but SEU sent it to a fifth with the next point.
- A 4-0 run gave the Eagles some momentum with an 8-6 lead at the switch, but the Phoenex were able to get it right back with the next five points. Schussler started the rally and was followed by a pair of aces from Jenna Dixon (Fy., California, Pa. / California). The Eagles were able to regroup and eventually tie the set at 13-all before a kill from Menedis and an ace from Schussler sent Gannett Field House into a frenzy.
Inside The Numbers
- Menedis set a new career-best with an astounding 30 kills on 64 attempts for a hitting percentage of .281. Schussler also reached double-figures with 18 spikes.
- Garcelon and Dixon set up the attack with 25 and 21 assists, respectively.
- Defensively a trio of players reached double figures in digs. Alexis Buckley (So., Millsboor, Del. / Indian River) led the way with 15. Menedis reached a double-double with 11, while Dixon picked up an even 10.
- Garcelon led the team up front with four blocks.
- After recording 17 aces on Thursday night, the Phoenix followed up with 15 more today. Dixon led a balanced effort with four.
- This is the second-straight match Wilson has gone five sets with St. Elizabeth. The two teams also went the distance in last year's regular season finale.
- The last time Wilson came from behind to win a match was also a five set thriller in 2019.
Up Next
A midweek clash with Notre Dame of Maryland awaits the Phoenix. They'll take on the Gators on Wednesday with a start time of 7 p.m.
