OWINGS MILLS, Maryland - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's volleyball team split its pair of matches in a tri-match against Catholic University and Stevenson University on Saturday afternoon in Owings Mills, MD. The Marlins defeated the Cardinals in three sets whilst falling in three to the Mustangs of Stevenson.

GAME ONE INFORMATION
Score: Virginia Wesleyan 3 - Catholic 0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-19)
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 17-3  | Catholic 4-16
Location: Owings Mills Gymnasium | Owings Mills, MD

MATCH RECAP
Catholic started the match on a 9-6 run before Virginia Wesleyan came back to tie and take the lead at 10-9. The Cardinals led 15-13 but a Marlins countered with a 5-1 run taking an 18-16 lead forcing a CU timeout. Catholic pulled within one point, 19-18, but Virginia Wesleyan closed out the opening set on a 6-1 run winning 25-19.

VWU opened set two with three consecutive points but CU responded with a 6-2 run to lead 6-5. The Marlins answered with a 9-0 rally taking an eight-point lead, 14-6, before the Cardinals saw their next point. Virginia Wesleyan closed out the set on an 11-6 run to win 25-13 and pull ahead two sets to none. 

The teams were knotted at four all early before VWU took a 7-4 lead following a pair of Abigail Mahoney service aces. Catholic came back to take a 12-10 lead following a 6-3 run. Virginia Wesleyan answered with a 5-1 run of their own to lead 15-13 forcing a Catholic timeout. Following the break in action the Cardinals knotted the score at 15 all but the Marlins dug deep to close the set on a 10-4 run winning the third set 25-19 and taking the match in three. 

• Morgan Ludovici and Abigail Mahoney led the team with nine kills apiece. Taylor Paquette was close behind with eight of her own.
• Haley Sutton and Alexis Davies-Hackenberg split the majority of the assists with Sutton recording 16 while Davies-Hackenberg put up 12.
• The back line was bolstered by Isabelle Gaudet and Ludovici as each gathered 19 and 12 digs respectively. 

GAME TWO INFORMATION
Score: Stevenson 3 - Virginia Wesleyan 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-21)
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 17-4  | Stevenson 15-4
Location: Owings Mills Gymnasium | Owings Mills, MD

MATCH RECAP
The Mustangs struck early opening the first set on a 6-1 run. The Marlins came as close as one point, 15-14, before Stevenson went on a 6-1 run taking a 21-15 lead. VWU responded with five points in a row before SU ended the set with four consecutive points of their own to win 25-20.

The teams sat tied six all through the early services, and remained knotted until the score was 11 all. VWU went on a 5-1 run taking a 16-12 lead, but a 7-2 rally by SU gave the host team a one-point lead 19-18. The teams tied up again at 19 all and then 23 all before the Mustangs closed the set with back-to-back points to win 25-23. 

After an early 5-2 Mustang lead, the Marlins came back to tie the score at 5-5 and it remained tied until Stevenson went on a 7-2 run that gave them a 14-10 lead. Virginia Wesleyan again knotted the score this time at 14 all and again at 17 all as the teams headed into the last half of the set. The Mustangs took a three-point lead, 22-19, following a 5-2 run and despite their efforts the Marlins could not claim the lead as Stevenson took set three 25-23 and the match in three sets. 

• Kathryn Yeager was the lead attacker in the second match of the day with 14 kills. Abigail Mahoney was second with eight kills of her own.
• Haley Sutton led in assists with 17.
• Isabelle Gaudet and Ludovici anchored the back line with 15 and 13 digs respectively.

UP NEXT
Virginia Wesleyan returns to action on Wednesday, October 13, when they travel to Fredericksburg, VA, to face the Eagles from the University of Mary Washington. First serve in the midweek night cap is set for 7 PM.