(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Saria Alshaikhali (Jr., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Hayfield) led Wilson with 13 kills, but it wasn't enough as the Phoenix fell in a hard-fought four-set contest with St. Elizabeth. The Blue and Black opened up by taking the first set, but couldn't top the Eagles in the next three as the visitors took the win.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 1, St. Elizabeth 3 (22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22)
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 6-11, St. Elizabeth 9-5
How It Happened
- The opening set went back and forth to start as teams alternated the first eight points equally. Wilson created a little separation with a 4-0 run to generate some momentum. Alshaikhali started it with a kill and capped it with a solo block to make it 8-4. After the Eagles scored the next point, Wilson went on a 5-1 run with kills from Alshaikhali and Demetrius Simmons (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) to take a 13-6 lead, its largest of the night. After some more back-and-forth scoring similar to what started the set, Alshaikhali served an ace that put the Phoenix up 20-15. The Eagles started to rally and closed the deficit down to one, but Wilson was able to put the set away as a block from Xavier Webber (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) and Jacob McCoy (Fy., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) along with kills from Alshaikhali and Simmons gave them the win.
- The second set started with teams exchanging points once again with service errors providing a bulk of the points. One by the Eagles left the Phoenix with an 11-10 lead, but it would be their last of the set as the visitors reeled off the next four points. A 5-1 run fueled by three more Alshaikhali kills tied it at 18 before St. Elizabeth went back up by three. Wilson answered with another Alshaikhali kill, Alshaikhali ace, and a Webber kill to tie it at 21, but the Eagles scored the next four points to even the match.
- The Eagles got off to a 6-1 start to open the third leaving the Phoenix to play catch-up the rest of the way. They got as close as two on a few occasions midway through the set and eventually down to one after an Eagles error made it 20-19, but Wilson couldn't get over the hump and fell behind 2-1.
- The fourth saw another see-saw start with Wyatt Tribett (So., Myersville, Md. / Middletown) evening things up at 5-all after a kill. The Eagles created some separation by scoring six of the next eight points, but Wilson kept close with a 4-1 run to make the score 12-11 in favor of the Eagles. However, the visitors started the pull away and took an 18-13 advantage. The Phoenix made one final push and strung together three consecutive points on a Webber kill, an Eagles error, and a block by McCoy and Webber before St. Elizabeth ended the match with a kill.
Inside The Numbers
- Alshaikhali had arguably the best match of his career with 13 kills on 24 attempts. The baker's dozen also came with a hitting percentage of .458, by far the best of the season when reaching double figures.
- Webber wasn't far behind and recorded his seventh double double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs. He was strong up front as well with three blocks on the night.
- Jonathan Minnick (So., Dublin, Va. / New River CC) set up the attack with 28 assists on the night.
- The Phoenix were once again strong up front with eight blocks on the night. McCoy was partially responsible for five of them. It's the second time in the last three matches that he's recorded at least five blocks.
For The Eagles
- Wilson had trouble containing Frank Rossi Jr. who led all players with 17 kills and hit .316 on the night. Kodi Peters added 13 for St. Elizabeth on 24 attempts and hit .292.
- Eddy Peña added 15 digs.
Up Next
Wilson squares off with Bryn Athyn for its next two contests. The first will take place on the road this Saturday with the first serve set for 6 p.m.
