(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Xavier Webber (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) peppered 30 kills across two matches, but it wasn't enough as Wilson dropped a pair of contests to visiting Immaculata on Saturday afternoon. The good news for the Phoenix was that they got stronger with each set and nearly pulled off a comeback in the second match before extra points were needed of the Mighty Macs to secure their second win.
The Basics
Scores: Match 1 – Wilson 0, Immaculata 3 (25-17, 25-19, 25-21)
Match 2 – Wilson 1, Immaculata 3 (25-22, 25-21, 24-26, 26-24)
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 2-7, Immaculata 7-10
How It Happened – Match 1
- The opening set foreshadowed how most of the afternoon went as both teams were nearly equal before Immaculata pulled out the win late in each set. Webbers first kill of the day gave the Phoenix a 6-5 lead early before the Macs followed with the next three points to jump back in front. Wilson eventually went on a 4-1 run to tie the game at 10- and 11-all with Saria Alshaikhali (Jr., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Hayfield) leading the charge, but Immaculata responded with a 4-1 run of its own to take the lead for good. A Wyatt Tribett (So., Myersville, Md. / Middletown) kill put the Phoenix back within one, but the Macs scored seven of the next eight en route to a 1-0 lead.
- Wilson was tied as late as 10-10 in the second set after a kill by Webber, but Immaculata was able to jump back in front shortly after and stay there despite the Phoenix sticking close by. A Garrett Pepper service error put Wilson within one at 17-16 before the Macs took the next three points and stayed in front by at least that much the rest of the way.
- The third set saw the Macs jump out to a 9-3 lead, but the Phoenix didn't quit and fought to make it the closest game of the match. A couple of 3-0 runs with the second one capped by another Webber put down made the score 12-9, and after going back down by six again, the Phoenix again closed the deficit to three at 23-20 following an Immaculata error. However, the Macs were able to take two of the final three points to take the first match of the day.
How It Happened – Match 2
- The Phoenix kept getting stronger as the day went on, and it continued to show after a short break before the second match. Immaculata opened up with a 6-2 lead in the first set, but the Phoenix were able to claw back into the game and stay within one on multiple occasions. A McCoy kill made the score 9-8, another by Tribett put it at 11-10, Demetrius Simmons (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) swung through to make it 13-12, and Alshaikhalli's slick attack made it 14-13. Later in the set another pair of kills by Simmons put Wilson within one again at 21-20 and 22-21, but the Phoenix weren't able to get over the hump as the Macs took a 1-0 lead.
- Wilson had its best start of the day to that point in the second set of the second match. Kills from Alshaikhali, Webber and Simmons filled a 5-0 run as the Phoenix took an 11-6 lead, their largest of the day to that point. Immaculata was able to tie it at 13-all, but a Webber kill put Wilson back in front 14-13. After the next four points were evenly split, Immaculata jumped back in front for good with a 5-0 rally.
- The Phoenix saw their only set win come in the third of Match 2. A Macs service error and a pair of Tribett kills helped push Wilson in front 11-6 early. Moments later Alshaikhali landed three kills and Simmons blocked a Macs attack in a 5-1 stretch to put his team up 17-9, the largest for the Phoenix on the day. Immaculata was able to respond and tie the set at 18-all before Wilson again took the lead with four of the next five points thanks to a pair of kills from Webber and McCoy each. Again the Macs came back to tie the set as late as 24-all before Wilson ended it with swings by Alshaikhali and Simmons.
- With momentum now on their side, the Phoenix led for the early goings of the fourth set thanks to a 9-4 start capped by attacks from Alshaikhali, Webber and Simmons. Immaculata eventually tied it at 13-all once again before Wilson jumped back in front with kills from Alshaikhali, Jonathan Minnick (So., Dublin, Va. / New River CC), and two by Webber to set the score at 17-14. A solo block by McCoy eventually put Wilson up 20-17 before the Macs mounted their final comeback and took a 23-22 lead. Wilson was able to tie it on the next point and again at 24-all on a Simmons kill, but Immaculata closed the match with the final two points to end Wilson's hopes of a comeback.
Inside The Numbers
- Webber finished the day with 30 kills between the two matches with two double doubles. The first match was one of his finest attacking contests of the season as he finished with 14 kills on 27 attempts and a hitting percentage of .296. Defensively he picked up 10 digs, his second highest total of the season. Well, at least until the next match. In the nightcap Webber struck down 16 attacks and picked up 15 digs for a new season-best.
- Speaking of season-bests, Alshaikhali had his best match of the season so far in the nightcap. His 14 kills were six more than his previous best with one fewer set. He too picked up 15 digs as he shared match-high honors with Webber.
- Simmons reached double digits for the second time this season with 10 kills in the second match.
- Minnick set up the offense and tallied 27 assists for a new season-best in three-set matches. He cranked up the output in the second match with 47 assists for a new season-high.
Up Next
Wilson will return to action on the road against Neumann this Tuesday. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
