Women's Volleyball Suffers Back-to-Back Losses to Conclude Wildcat Regional Invitational
NEWARK, DE. - The Thomas Jefferson University (0-4) finished the Wilmington Wildcat Regional Invitational with two five set losses to Molloy University (2-4) and Queens College (6-1).
MATCH ONE – L, 2-3 vs Molloy
Molloy went ahead in the first set 13-8, but the Rams would earn five points in a row to even it out 13-13. After getting the game tied at 17-17, the Lions would get four straight points to make it 21-17. Jefferson would get within one point, but Molloy took the last four to take the first set 25-20. The Lions would repeat the same score in the second set as Molloy went ahead 6-2. Being down 14-8, Jefferson would tie the game up again at 14-14. The Rams would eventually be down only one point near the end of the second set 20-19, but Molloy would earn five of the last six points to get the 25-20 win.
Jefferson would go ahead 10-5 in the third set. The Lions would get ahead 11-10, but Jefferson would start their run and go on a 15-6 run to take the third set 25-17. Molloy would look to end the series as they jumped out to a 7-2 lead. The Rams would go on a 9-1 run and take the lead 11-8. Both teams would begin to trade points back and forth, but Jefferson would end the set on an 8-4 run, winning the fourth 25-18.
After the Rams would go ahead with a 3-2 lead, the Lions would take the next four points and be up 6-3. Jefferson would get within two points, but Molloy would eventually take the fifth set 15-8 and the series 3-2.
QUICK HITS
Morgan Ritchie: 23 kills, 16 digs
Aja Smith: 12 kills, 3 blocks
Kristine Guenther: 49 assists, 16 digs, 3 service aces
Cameron Johnson: 14 digs, 4 assists
MATCH 2 – L, 2-3 vs Queens
The first set would see both teams come out strong early on they would be tied at 8-8. Queens would be up 11-9, but Jefferson would keep up with the Knights as the game would still be evened up at 17-17. Queens would earn the next four points and hold the lead to a 25-21 win in the first set. The Rams would waste little time in the second as they jumped out to a 11-1 lead. Queens would get as close as five points to Jefferson, but the Rams would keep their attack going as they even the series at 1-1 with a 25-18 win in the second set.
The Rams continued their momentum as they went ahead 11-3 to begin the third set. Once again, the Knights would get within five points at 11-6, but the Rams replicated the second set as they would keep their attack going, taking the third set 25-17. Looking to continue the match with the Rams, Queens would get ahead 10-6 to begin the fourth set. Jefferson would fight their way back and be down three points. The Knights would end the set on a 10-4 run and even the series with a 25-16 win in the fourth.
The Knights would go out from the get-go, going ahead 8-3. Queens would keep the lead through the fifth, with the Rams getting as close as two points near the end. A kill by Queens would end the set with a 15-12 win and give the Knights the series victory 3-2.
QUICK HITS
Morgan Ritchie: 20 kills, 15 digs
Aja Smith: 14 kills, 3 digs, 3 blocks
Kalen Jordan: 9 kills, 3 blocks
Kristine Guenther: 47 assists, 12 digs
Cameron Johnson: 20 digs
Amelia Andrews-Sullivan: 7 blocks
NOTES
- Ritchie was named to the All-Tournament Team for her performance during the tournament. She had a .254 hitting percentage in the three matches Jefferson played, accumulating 74 kills, 43 digs, seven service aces, six assists, and five blocks. She averaged 4.93 kills-per-set and 5.6 points-per-set.
ALL-TOURNAMENT
Holy Family: Ava Kidd
Kutztown: Gabriela Fialova
Queens: Alexis Deodat
Jefferson: Morgan Ritchie
Molloy: Kiarra Roth
WilmU: Shannen Litten
UP NEXT
Jefferson would begin Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) action as they travel to Holy Family this Wednesday, September 13 in a 6:00 p.m. matchup.
