Marlins Fight before Falling in Three Sets to Gulls

SALISBURY, Md. -- The Virginia Wesleyan College volleyball team pushed Salisbury University to the brink in the first two sets Tuesday night, but the Sea Gulls prevailed in three to capture the non-conference victory 25-23, 26-24, 25-15.

The Marlins only lost the first game by two points despite being outhit .370 to .182. Virginia Wesleyan led 22-21 in the first set, but three of the Sea Gulls' final four points came via errors to go up a set.

VWC once again found itself out in front in the second set, taking a 23-22 lead. Katie Stouffer put away a kills for Salisbury, followed by a service ace to force set point.

Tiffany Barrett finished off a kill from Emilee Pierson to extend the game, but an attack error and kill by Sydney Davis earned another game for the Sea Gulls.

Virginia Wesleyan led 6-5 in the third game and trailed by one, 12-11, before a 13-4 run finished off the match in favor of Salisbury.

Stouffer finished with 18 kills and just four attack errors for Salisbury (9-6) while Rachel Pierson accumulated 34 assists and 12 digs.

Barrett ended the evening with 18 kills, hitting .469, with 10 digs. Pierson had 18 assists as Colleen Smith added a career-high 12 digs.

Virginia Wesleyan (9-6/2-0 ODAC) returns home Thursday to face Hollins University (2-10/0-2) in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play at 7 p.m.