(PITTSBURGH) – Saturday's tri-match in the Steel City saw Wilson take on Pitt Greensburg and host Chatham to cap off the weekend. The Phoenix nearly scored their first victory of the year as they fell to the Bobcats in a five-set nailbiter before being downed by the Cougars in straight sets for the first time this season.
The Basics
Scores: Match 1 – Wilson 2, Pitt Greensburg 3 (25-12, 19-25, 25-12, 20-25, 16-14)
Match 2 – Wilson 0, Chatham 3 (25-9, 25-4, 25-17)
Venue: Chatham Athletic & Fitness Center
Records: Wilson 0-4, Pitt Greensburg 1-5, Chatham 2-0
How It Happened
- It was a slow start for the Blue and White as they fell down early to the Bobcats. Wilson was able to adjust and came out firing on all cylinders in the second set and jumped out to a 5-0 lead with the help of a pair of Allyson Garcelon (Sr., Shrewsbury, Pa. / Susquehannock) kills. After Greensburg scored its first point, Alison Daniels (So., Lititz, Pa. / Warwick) laid down a kill and an ace followed by a Masalyna Miller (FY, Greencastle, Pa.) kill en route to a 9-1 lead. The Bobcats rallied to make it 14-11, but the Phoenix didn't let them get any closer. Abby Moreland (Jr., Sabillasville, Md. / Catoctin) helped out with an ace and Daniels scored another kill to help make it 18-11. After some back and forth place, Garcelon closed the set with a kill.
- The third set was even through the first 14 points before Greensburg started to pull away. An 8-1 run made it 15-8 and the Bobcats got stronger from there to regain a set lead.
- Another even start saw both squads even at 10-all. After a Bobcats kill, Wilson scored the next four with kills from Garcelon and Miller sandwiched around a pair of Daniels aces. Greensburg rallied to tie the set at 18 and 19-all before Daniels sparked the final push with a kill. Bobcat errors then helped the Phoenix as they closed with a 6-1 run to force the fifth.
- Greensburg opened up a 7-4 lead in the deciding frame, but Wilson didn't go away quietly. Moreland ignited a 5-0 run with a kill that also featured a pair of kills from Alexis Landis (FY, Parkesburg, Pa.). A kill by Miller, a Michaela Windisch (Jr., Westminster, Md. / Catoctin) ace, and a Daniels kill left Wilson serving for match point, but the Bobcats rallied to score the next five to hand the Phoenix a heartbreaking defeat.
- In Match 2, Chatham opened the first set with a 4-0 lead before Wilson scored the next three. Unfortunately, the Blue and White were unable to build any momentum as the hosts raced away for a first set win. That fed into a second set win where little went right for the Phoenix. The third set proved to be better for Wilson, but still saw Chatham take the victory and the contest.
Inside The Numbers
- Moreland had another strong offensive match with 11 kills in the opener to give her 24 for the weekend. She was busy on the defensive end with 17 digs against the Bobcats and eight more against the Cougars.
- Speaking of digs, it was a busy day for the Blue and White with six players recording at least 13 against the Bobcats. Garcelon led the way with career-high of 20, crushing her previous best of 13 set last season. Miller added 16, while Addie Hebert (Jr., Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg), Windisch, and Daniels all had a baker's dozen.
- Hebert paced the Phoenix in the nightcap with 10 more digs to give her 38 for the weekend.
Up Next
The Phoenix are back home as they host Washington College on Wednesday. First serve Is set for 7 p.m.
