Volleyball Heads to Third Straight CACC Championship Game; Beats Wilmington in Four Sets 

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The South No. 1 seed Thomas Jefferson University volleyball team (19-10) will look to lock in their third straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship as they make their third title appearance with a 3-1 Semifinal win over Wilmington University of Delaware in Saturday afternoon action. 

WHAT HAPPENED 
The Rams went out on an early 6-1 lead off two of three Caroline Bond service aces in this set, as Jefferson had 11 in the match. The Wildcats slowly cut it down by three before two Aja Smith kills helped Jefferson be ahead 17-11. Sam Mann, Jess Molen, and Morgan Ritchie would all have kills heading down the stretch as Jefferson held off Wilmington's late comeback to take the first set 25-20.  

The Rams would have strong momentum in the second set, as they'd jump out to a 13-4 advantage with kills from Emily McKenna, Kalen Jordan, Bond, and Molen. After going back and forth with trading points, the Rams concluded the second set with a 10-4 run to take the second set 25-10.  

Wilmington got out ahead 4-1 with a Cailyn Smiley kill. Jefferson would tie the game at 4-4 with a Smith and Molen kill. The Wildcats would be up 9-7, but Jefferson secured five of the next six points with blocks from McKenna, Mann, Bond, and Jordan to be up 13-10. Wilmington then went on a 8-2 run off with a Smiley kill alongside Shannen Litten and Brice Hansen as the Wildcats got ahead 18-15. Jefferson would get within one, but Wilmington was able to end the third set winning 25-21 and making the series 2-1. 

After being even at 2-2 to begin the fourth, Jefferson took five in a row with Molen and Bond scoring a kill while Jordan and Molen also had a block. The Rams would have it at 11-5, but Wilmington would cut the lead to three making it 14-11. Another six straight points by the Rams helped build their lead to be ahead 20-11. Wildcats would begin to trade points, but Jefferson built too much of a lead as Mann ended the fourth with a kill to secure a 25-17 win and earn the Rams an appearance for the third straight year in the CACC Championship game. 

QUICK HITS 
Jess Molen: 20 kills, 15 digs, 3 blocks, 2 service aces 
Sam Mann: 11 kills, 4 blocks 
Caroline Bond: 44 assists, 20 digs, 4 blocks, 3 service aces 
Cameron Johnson: 10 digs, 7 assists 

UP NEXT 
Jefferson will look to make it three straight CACC Championship titles as they will face North #1 seed University of Bridgeport on Sunday, November 19 at 12 p.m.