(BRADFORD, Pa.) – It was a marathon of a day for Wilson women's volleyball as it played a tri hosted by Pitt Bradford on Saturday. While the Phoenix played two matches, they played enough sets for three as both went five sets. In addition to that issues with the floor caused a change in venue, but at the end of the day the Blue and White won their first contest of the season and were extremely close to making it 2-for-2.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 3, Elmira 2 (25-22, 19-25, 21-25, 25-20, 17-15)
Wilson 2, Pitt Bradford 3 (25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 15-11)
Venue: Pitt Bradford Sports & Fitness Center / Fretz Middle School
Records: Wilson 1-13, Elmira 2-11, Pitt Bradford 3-12
How It Happened (vs. Elmira)
- It was a slow start for the Phoenix as Eagles opened up a 6-1 lead, but the Blue and White were able to respond with a 7-1 rally to take the lead with kills form Angela Uhlhorn (FY, Kingsville, Md. / Catholic), Allyson Garcelon (Jr., Shrewsbury, Pa. / Susquehannock), and Deah Menedis (Sr., Reisterstown, Md. / Franklin). Later in the set, a pair of aces by Michaela Windisch (So., Westminster, Md. / Catoctin) along with scoring attacks by Menedis and Abby Moreland (So., Sabillasville, Md. / Catoctin) contributed to a 7-0 push to take an 18-11 lead. Another Menedis kill gave Wilson a 22-13 lead before Elmire climbed back to make it a one point game at 23-22, but the Phoenix were able to score the next two points to take a 1-0 lead.
- Wilson and Elmira were even at the start before the Eagles started to pull away. A 10-3 run put Elmira up 14-7 and the Phoenix weren't able to recover as the match pulled even at one set each.
- The Phoenix looked poised to bounce back with a third set win and went up 11-5 at the start with kills from Menedis, Alison Daniels (FY, Lititz, Pa. / Warwick), and Garcelon at the start. Garcelon and Uhlhorn also paired up for a block to help set the tone early. The Eagles again climbed back into contention and got stronger as the game went on and eventually took the frame after ending it on a 10-2 run.
- Wilson bounced back with authority and opened up the fourth on a 12-3 run with four kills by Menedis in that stretch. Elmira eventually cut the deficit to three, but the Phoenix could not be deterred and used a kill from Daniels to force the fifth.
- Elmira jumped out to a big lead in the fifth only to see the Phoenix make the comeback this time. After a 6-1 deficit, four-straight points eventually gave Wilson the lead at 12-11. The Eagles scored the next three to serve for the potential match point, but an error and a Garcelon block tied it up at 14-all. After an Elmira kill, Daniels tied the set once again before consecutive Eagle errors gave Wilson its first win of the season.
How It Happened (vs. Pitt Bradford)
- The match against the Panthers was about as even as it could get with a Menedis kill tying the set at 21-all before Pitt reeled off the next four to take the first. The second saw Wilson take a 17-15 lead after kills from Garcelon and Uhlhorn. Pitt answered with the next four points and remained in front to take a 2-0 lead.
- Trailing 14-10 in the third, the Phoenix were able to avoid the sweep and started a comeback push with a 7-0 with three Garcelon aces. The Panthers climbed back and eventually regained the lead at 24-23 following a Jenna Louser kill, but Wilson stayed alive with a pair of Garcelon kills sandwiched around one from Menedis.
- Momentum carried into the fourth and Wilson was able to pull away in the middle of the set, eventually going up by eight after kills from Uhlhorn and Menedis. The Phoenix stayed comfortably in front down the stretch and eventually forced the fifth with an attack from Garcelon.
- The fifth saw both teams even through the first 22 points after a kill from Moreland tied the set. Unfortunately the Panthers were able to go on a run and closed the match with the next four points.
Inside The Numbers
- Menedis put up two of the best matches of her career as she amassed an incredible 41 kills between both contests. It's a career-best total for the senior in back-to-back matches. It also put her over 100 kills for the season and 600 for her career.
- Defensively she was arguably even better as she hit the half century mark in digs with 27 against Pitt Bradford and 23 against Elmira. Both rank as the top two in single matches for her career.
- Garcelon was also incredible in a utility role. Between both contests she totaled 25 kills, 23 assists, 19 digs, five aces, and five blocks. She was a kill shy of a double-double against Elmira and four digs shy of a triple-double against Bradford.
- Moreland scored a double-double against Bradford with 12 kills and 17 digs.
- It was the first match for the Phoenix against Elmira in 25 years and first win against the Eagles after falling to them twice in 1999.
Up Next
United East competition lies ahead and will see Wilson take on Cairn on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
