Le Moyne College Athletics

Wilmington, N.C. - The Le Moyne volleyball team dropped a pair of three-set decisions to UNC Wilmington and The Citadel on Friday afternoon at the Hampton Inn and Suites Seahawk Classic. The Seahawks took the first match by set scores of 25-12, 25-17 and 25-14, while The Citadel claimed the victory by scores of 25-23, 25-18 and 25-18.
 
Le Moyne was led against UNCW by senior opposite/outside hitter Branwyn Lupton (Napanee, Ontario/Napanee District Secondary School), who posted six kills in a match-high 23 attempts. Freshman outside hitter Avery Stromberg (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) added seven kills in her Dolphin debut, while junior setter Skylar Jehlen (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) distributed 12 assists. Freshman libero Aubrey Kimball (Greensboro, N.C./Cornerstone Charter Academy) anchored the defense with seven digs in her collegiate debut.
 
The first set saw Le Moyne and UNC Wilmington trade points back and forth before the Seahawks went on a 10-1 scoring run to put the set out of hand for the Dolphins.
 
The second set saw the Dolphins get out to a great start, going on a 6-1 scoring run to start the set. However, UNC Wilmington was able to tie it up at 13-13 before going on another 10-1 scoring streak to close out the second set of the match.
 
Le Moyne went down early, 6-2, to start the third set before calling a timeout. Coming out of the break, the Dolphins were able to pull within three of the Seahawks. However, they were unable to complete the comeback as UNC Wilmington closed out the final set with a 5-0 scoring run to win the match.

Junior middle hitter Alise Evans (Tampa, Florida/Oak Park/UNC Asheville) led the Dolphins in the nightcap with four kills, two blocks and two digs. Freshman setter Katie Barbour (Durham, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons) directed the offense with 12 assists, while adding three blocks and three digs on the defensive side. Kimball turned in eight digs.

The teams went back and forth to start the match before The Citadel scored four straight points for its first three-point edge. The Dolphins countered with five consecutive points to take the lead back. After the teams split the next 10 points, the Dolphins tallied back-to-back points for a 21-18 lead. The Citadel countered with three straight points and seven of the last nine to take the opening set.

The Citadel scored the first four points of the second set en route to a 13-6 advantage. Le Moyne posted the next four points to get within three, but could not get any closer the rest of the set.

The teams split the first 24 points of the third set before The Citadel ran off five of the next six points for a 17-13 advantage. Le Moyne got within 20-18, but The Citadel recorded the final five points to close out the victory.
  Le Moyne plays Kennesaw State University on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. to finish out the Hampton Inn and Suites Seahawk Classic.