WILMINGTON, N.C.- Starting off the morning session of the “Battle at the Beach”, the Presbyterian College volleyball team defeated host UNC Wilmington in a fourth straight five-game set by a 30-28, 30-26, 23-30, 30-26 and 15-13 margin. Along the way to improving to 5-4 on the season, the Blue Hose have a five-game winning streak which is the longest in the first nine games since 2002.
Behind Elizabeth Heineman's 22 digs, four players reached the double-figure plateau, with Lauren Mason (17), Amanda Davis (13) and Ashley Dunlap (10) following suit. Mason added 21 kills while up front Justine Lanchester drove home 16.
Facing their fourth consecutive fifth game match, the Blue Hose handled the pressure with expertise. Gaining a two-point advantage on four different occasions through the first 13 points, the game reached a climatic tie. On a pass from Rachel Lewis, Kelsey McKee recorded a kill, giving PC the lead. Lewis followed with a service ace and the 15-13 Presbyterian College win was the result.
UNC Wilmington (2-7) extended the match to a fifth and deciding game, putting Presbyterian College into familiar territory. In a fourth game that included 12 ties, the last of which came at 23-23, the Seahawks scored the next five straight points to take a 28-23 advantage. With Ashley Dunlap serving, a kill by Lanchester along with an attack error by Rachel Caricato of UNCW , drew the margin to two points before the Seahawks closed out the 30-26 win.
With back-and-forth scoring over the first 14 points of the game, allowing PC to lead on six occasions and the Seahawks four times, the game reached a 14-14 tie. From there UNCW scored the next five straight points, a game-high for either team, putting the clamps on the game. Despite a late run, including a service ace by Lanchester that closed scoring to 27-23, the Blue Hose were able to pull no closer in the 30-23 defeat.
Facing the possibility of losing a tough game two battle, a contest which PC lead by six points on two occasions in the first 20, the team rose to the occasion. Trailing 23-20 and Dunlap serving, the freshman would force a UNCW error, combined with kills by Sarah Parker Mounce and Lanchester to knot the game at 24-24. From there the combination of Amanda Davis serves, which included an ace along with forcing two Seahawk errors, and two Lauren Mason kills clinched the game for Presbyterian at 30-26.
For the second time in consecutive matches and fourth time in the season PC opened with a victory in game one. Lewis continued a solid tournament performance, helping the Blue Hose to account for three early points including an attack error on the Seahawks. Leading 11-6, Presbyterian put together a small run which included two kills by Lanchester and one each from Mason and McKee, to assume is largest lead at 20-13. The Seahawks retalliated with a run of their own, slicing the lead to as few as two points three points, drawing the score to 28-26. However, two Mason kills in the final four points of the game gave PC the win.
1 2 3 4 5
Presbyterian 30 30 23 26 15
UNC Wilmington 28 26 30 30 13
Presbyterian vs. UNC Wilmington Post Game Notes
- PC has now won the opening two games of the match twice during the season. The previous time came at the Jacksonville University Tournament against Providence College (30-24, 30-20).
- The largest advantage that the Blue Hose enjoyed during the match-up came in game one at seven points.
- Presbyterian College has played in four straight matches of five games dating back to September 1st (vs. Jacksonville). The Blue Hose are (4-0) in these matches.
