PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University women's volleyball team remains the hottest team in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) after sweeping conference foe Holy Family, 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-22), Wednesday night in the Campus Center.

The Rams extended their CACC winning streak to eight, and improve to 13-8 overall and 12-2 in conference play. A Philadelphia win over visiting USciences on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. will lock up a spot in the CACC Championship Tournament.

Junior middle hitter Terra Ecker (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) paced the Rams' offense with a match-high 11 kills. Senior outside hitter Brittany Olson (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) added nine kills and nine digs. Sophomore outside hitter Allison Manley (Saint Charles, Ill./Saint Charles East) contributed seven kills while hitting .438.

Senior setter Heather Martin (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) posted her fourth double-double of the year with 21 assists and a match-best 11 digs.

Philadelphia won a tight first set after breaking a 21-all tie—the eighth tie of the set—by taking the final four points. Sophomore middle hitter Chelsea Hughes (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) had two kills and Manley had one during the push.

The Rams carried their momentum from the end of set one with them into set two as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead. Philadelphia held the lead until Holy Family (13-13, 9-7 CACC) scored seven unanswered points to put the Tigers ahead 21-20. The Rams recovered to retake a 24-22 lead on a Hughes kill. Philadelphia won the set on a Holy Family attack error.

In the third set, Philadelphia chipped away at an early 6-1 deficit. Four consecutive Tiger attack errors brought the Rams back and tied the score at 20. A Martin service ace gave Philadelphia its first lead of the set at 22-21. Leading 24-22, Philadelphia won the match thanks to a Holy Family service error. Holy Family committed 10 attack errors in the set, while Philadelphia had only six.

Rachel Johnson and Emma Herring led Holy Family with eight kills each.