Box Score PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University women's volleyball team picked up its 20th win over the season after defeating Chestnut Hill 25-9, 21-25, 25-19, 25-9 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tuesday night in the Gallagher Center.
Philadelphia, who locked up the southern division crown last week, improves to 20-5 overall and 16-2 against the CACC. It is the Rams' first 20-win season since 2013.
The Rams also completed their slate of home matches with an 11-2 record.
CACC player of the week Chelsea Hughes (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) and Courtney Wensel (Bechtelsville, Pa./Berks Catholic) led the Rams' offense with 14 kills each. Wensel added 10 digs for her 10th double-double of the year.
Nina Morvin (Willow Grove, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) recorded a season-high 37 assists, while Michele Chai (Sinking Spring, Pa./Berks Catholic) had a match-best 21 digs.
Philadelphia hit a match-high .320, while holding Chestnut Hill (11-20, 10-8 CACC) to -0.226 in the opening set win. Hughes' only kill of the set sparked a string of 11 straight points that allowed the Rams to open up a 16-4 lead. The Griffins committed six attack errors to help the Rams break away.
The Rams owned a 12-9 lead in the second set before the Griffins rattled off five points in row, four on Philadelphia errors, to move in front 14-12. Chestnut Hill took a set high 24-19 on a Philadelphia ball handling error. The Griffins hit .346 and the Rams had a hitting percentage of .051.
Philadelphia got back on track in the third, leading from start to finish. Wensel had three kills and Hughes added two more during a 9-3 run to open the set. The Griffins chipped away at the Ram lead, getting as close as 17-16 on a Kennedy Sutton kill. Philadelphia ended the threat with seven of the final nine points. Hughes finished the set with six kills, while Wensel had five.
With the final set tied at six, Chai recorded her third kill of the season to start a 19-3 run that would end the match. Chestnut Hill committed nine errors during the Philadelphia surge, while Morvin would contribute three service aces. The Rams had six total blocks during the set.
Emily Koehler led Chestnut Hill with eight kills and Samantha Gelfan had five kills. Regina Trabosh recorded 14 digs.
Philadelphia heads to Lakewood, N.J. to close out the regular season with a CACC match against Georgian Court on Saturday, Nov. 14 at noon.
