PHILADELPHIA – The Thomas Jefferson University volleyball team (3-1, 2-0 CACC) erased a 2-0 deficit and topped visiting Wilmington (1-8, 0-1 CACC), 3-2, in the Rams' home opener at the Gallagher Center on Wednesday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jefferson got out to a 6-2 lead in the first set but the Wildcats answered with six of the next seven to go ahead 8-7. With the Rams holding a one-point edge (9-8), Wilmington went on a 10-1 tear to take control, 18-10. The Wildcats went on to win the set, 25-15.
 
In the second stanza, Jefferson had a 5-2 advantage but Wilmington took over with seven straight points to make it 9-5. Not to be outdone, the Rams responded with a 10-3 stretch to lead 15-12. Jefferson looked to be on its way to evening the match with a six-point cushion (22-16) but the Wildcats roared back with an 8-1 run and went in front 24-23. The Rams staved off two set points to tie the score at 25 but Wilmington recorded a kill then won the set, 27-25, on a Jefferson error.
 
The Rams recovered quickly in the third, jumping out to a 5-0 lead. The Wildcats got back in it and leveled the score at 11. With the teams deadlocked at 14, Jefferson recorded five in a row to take control, 19-14. The Rams went on to win the frame, 25-20.
 
Jefferson dominated the early portion of the fourth set and had a 14-6 advantage. Wilmington gradually cut into the deficit and was able to tie the score at 21. However, the Rams came back with four straight points, including two kills by Jess Molen and a service ace by Victoria Hamby, to claim the set and force a fifth stanza.
 
The Wildcats scored the first point of the fifth but Jefferson answered with the next five. Wilmington closed the gap to one on three separate occasions but the Rams never relinquished the lead. Molen fired a kill for the winning point as Jefferson finished off the comeback with a 15-12 decision.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Jess Molen: 24 kills (tied career high), 14 digs, 5 service aces, 3 blocks
Sam Mann: 12 kills, 3 blocks
Morgan Ritchie: 10 kills, 20 digs
Victoria Hamby: 47 assists, 13 digs, 3 service aces
Cameron Johnson: 29 digs, 5 assists
 
NOTES
- Cameron Johnson recorded her 500^th career dig in the match.
- The Rams have won 12 of their last 13 matchups against Wilmington.
- Jefferson won its home opener for the third straight season.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams play two matches at the Wilmington Regional Invitational on Friday, September 9^th, taking on New Haven at 1 p.m. and Saint Rose at 7 p.m.