(TOWSON, Md.) – Wilson headed to the Charm City for a tri-match hosted by Goucher which also involved Centenary on Saturday. The Phoenix were competitive in both contests, but fell to the Gophers in four and Cyclones in five.
The Basics
Scores: Match 1 – Wilson 1, Goucher 3 (25-10, 25-20, 23-25, 25-18)
Match 2 – Wilson 2, Centenary 3 (25-12, 22-25, 22-25, 25-17, 15-8)
Venue: Decker Center
Records: Wilson 0-7, Goucher 5-3, Centenary 4-4
How It Happened (Match 1)
- It was a slow start for the Phoenix as Goucher jumped out to a 9-3 lead, but they responded well with a 4-1 run that featured a pair of Abby Moreland (Jr., Sabillasville, Md. / Catoctin) kills and one from Alison Daniels (So., Lititz, Pa. / Warwick) to make it 10-7. The rally ended there though as the Gophers scored the next nine points to take control en route to the set win.
- After Goucher jumped out to another big lead, Wilson was forced to chip away once again. A Moreland kill sparked another burst of momentum that also featured a kill from Allyson Garcelon (Sr., Shrewsbury, Pa. / Susquehannock) to bring the deficit to 16-11. After the hosts scored the next three, the Phoenix went on a 5-0 run with kills from Alexis Landis (FY, Parkesburg, Pa.), Moreland and Garcelon. Back-to-back Moreland attacks and a Garcelon ace helped make it 23-20 before the Gophers scored the next pair to go up 2-0.
- Things started clicking in the third set for Wilson which was evidenced by a 6-0 run midway through. Moreland ignited the rally with a kill which was followed by a kill from Garcelon, a Daniels ace, and a kill from Kaylee Bastistig (FY, Greencastle, Pa.). After a Gopher error Bastistig downed another attack to make it 14-10. Goucher blocked for the next point, but Wilson kept the ball rolling with the next four points with Moreland adding two more kills to help force a fourth set.
- Wilson fed off the prior set win and jumped out to a 4-1 lead with a Moreland and Landis block and a Landis kill. However, Goucher answered with five of the next six points. The Phoenix eventually tied the frame with kills from Moreland, Landis, and Michaela Windisch (Jr., Westminster, Md. / Catoctin) to help make it 13-all, but the Blue and White couldn't get over the hump from there.
How It Happened (Match 2 vs. Centenary)
- The Cyclones raced out to a big lead and controlled almost all of the first set to go up 1-0, but Wilson responded nicely in the second. The Phoenix stayed neck-and-neck and were tied as late as 22-all. This time Wilson was able to pull even by scoring the last three points.
- Set 3 saw Centenary go out to an 8-1 lead, but saw the Phoenix live up to their nickname later in the set. A 7-0 run with a pair of Bastistig aces helped them regain the lead, and after the Cyclones took the next two, Wilson closed the game with a Landis Garcelon block, a Garcelon kill, an Addie Hebert (Jr., Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) ace, and a Cyclones error.
- Wilson stayed with the Cyclones through the first half of the fourth and trailed by one at 15-14 before Centenary went on to even the match. The Cyclones eventually won the fifth after scoring the first three points and never trailed the rest of the way.
Inside The Numbers
- Moreland had a monster day with her two best matches of the season. She opened with 19 kills against the Gophers while hitting .216 in the process before downing 13 kills against the Cyclones. She posted another pair of double-doubles to give her four on the season with 18 digs against Goucher and 13 against the Cylcones.
- Defensively Hebert was all over the floor with a combined 52 digs. A season-high 28 opened the day against Goucher with 24 against the Cyclones.
- Bastistig and Windisch also reached double figures with 13 and 12 digs, respectively, against the Gophers. Windisch and Garclon did so in the nightcap with 13 and 12.
- Garcelon and Landis added three blocks each in Match 2.
Up Next
The Phoenix are on the road at McDaniel this Tuesday. First serve with the Green Terror is set for 7 p.m.
