WVWC defeats Salem
BUCKHANNON — The West Virginia Wesleyan Lady Bobcat volleyball team returned to non-conference play against the Salem International Tigers Tuesday in Rockefeller Center.
The Lady Bobcats won a 3-0 straight sets decision – 25-23, 25-16, 25-18.
The first set was evenly contested as four points was the largest margin and that belonged to Salem International, at 11-7.
A kill by Hannah King, a Salem International attack error, and another kill by King brought Wesleyan to within one, at 11-10.
A kill by Lauryn Antolock gave Wesleyan a 14-13 lead, but Wesleyan couldn’t pull away as the match was deadlocked again at 21-21.
Three straight attack errors gave Wesleyan a 24-21 lead and they were able to hold off Salem International following a kill by Emily Doyle for match point.
Wesleyan led from start to finish in the second set.
A kill by Doyle gave them a commanding 11-3 lead early.
The closest the Tigers could get to the Lady Bobcats was a six-point margin.
King ended the set with a kill giving Wesleyan the nine-point victory.
Salem International took an early 5-2 lead in the final set.
Wesleyan scored three straight to deadlock the game at 5-5 and the game remained tied at 13-13.
The Lady Bobcats began to pull away at that point with a kill by Madison Cooper and an attack error treating them to a 15-13 lead.
With Wesleyan still leading by two, at 18-16, the Lady Bobcats reeled of three straight points for a 21-16 advantage.
Following a Salem International point, Leah Blend and Cooper had consecutive kills which gave Wesleyan a 23-17 lead.
A block by Ebonie Hicks ended the game with Wesleyan earning the seven-point win.
King had a game-high 15 kills while Doyle had 12.
Katlyn Buckland had a game-high 27 assists.
Hannah Bradford recorded a game-high 18 digs while Doyle had eight.
Salem dropped to 5-19 on the season.
Wesleyan improved to 8-11 overall.
The Lady Bobcats will have a busy homecoming weekend as they host West Liberty Friday at 7 p.m. and then face MEC league leader Wheeling Jesuit Saturday morning at 10 a.m.