Box Score PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University women's volleyball team continues to be the hottest team in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) after defeating conference opponent Concordia (N.Y.) 25-13, 25-15, 25-20 Saturday afternoon in the Gallagher Center.
The Rams increase their winning streak to nine, including six straight 3-0 victories, as they go to 11-4 overall and 7-1 against the CACC. The Clippers are now 2-7 overall and 2-7 in conference play.
Courtney Wensel (Bechtelsville, Pa./Berks Catholic) and Corinne Justus (Allentown, Pa./Emmaus) led the Philadelphia offense with eight kills each, while Lauren Laucella (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and Chelsea Hughes (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) both contributed six kills. Nina Morvin (Willow Grove, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) had a match-best 16 assists. Michele Chai (Sinking Spring, Pa./Berks Catholic) paced the defense with 10 digs, the most in the match.
Philadelphia posted a .526 hitting percentage, its second-best hitting percentage in a single set of the season, to easily take the opening set. The key to the set-one win was a run of nine straight points, four on Concordia errors and two on Chai service aces, to break the set open and give Philadelphia a 22-11 cushion. The Rams had a balanced offensive attack with six players recording a kill—led by Wensel's four kills.
Like the first set, the Rams used a big run to pull away for a comfortable set two victory. With the Rams leading 9-8, a Clipper service error would spark a 12-4 surge that would give Philadelphia a 21-12 lead. Laucella and Justus each had two kills during the run, which also included five Concordia errors. Wensel and Laucella both recorded three kills in the second set to the Rams, who once again had six players with a kill.
The deciding set was a completely different story with 11 ties and seven lead changes in the third set. Concordia took advantage of two Philadelphia errors to jump out to a quick 4-1 lead. The Rams responded with four straight points, capped off by a Chai ace, to take their first lead of the set, 5-4. During the back-and-forth, neither team was able to pull away by more than two points. With the set tied at 16, Hughes came through with a kill to spark a 6-1 run that put the Rams in the lead for good. Justus led the team with four kills in the final set.
Sydney Darden had a match-high 13 kills for Concordia, who was held to a .031 hitting percentage. Bianca Oritz added 14 assists and seven digs.
Philadelphia will go for its 10th straight win when it heads to Chestnut Hill for a CACC contest on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
