Lady Wildcats sweep two matches
CONWAY, Ark. – The Wiley College volleyball team continues its best start in program history with a pair of sweeps over Oklahoma Wesleyan University (25-21, 25-15, 25-19) and Central Baptist College (25-9, 25-13, 25-18) Monday at A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse.
It's the second time this season which the Lady Wildcats have swept a three-way after last week's victories over Centenary College and East Texas Baptist. The victory against Central Baptist is Wiley College's third on the road this season.
The Lady Wildcats (6-0) delivered a punishing attack in both matches. Against Oklahoma Wesleyan, they tallied 46 kills for a hitting percentage of .321. Five players recorded at least five kills with Larissa Francisco (JR/Sao Paulo, Brazil) – the reigning Red River Athletic Conference Attacker of the Week – leading the way with 12. Alexia Souza (JR/Taubate, Sao Paulo, Brazil) – the two-time defending Setter of the Week – assisted on 36 of Wiley College's 46 kills.
"Alexia spread the ball evenly and efficiently to our hitters," head coach Mike MacNeill said. "We have four hitters that reached 19 attempts and all of our hitters hit at least .250."
Olena Fedorenko (JR/Sevastopol, Ukraine) notched 10 kills in 19 attempts and also contributed four blocks. She led the front row to 12 blocks. Saadia Sahadeo (SO/Washington D.C.) picked up 3.5. The Lady Wildcats held the Lady Eagles to a .135 hitting percentage.
"Our front row is awesome," MacNeill said. "You never know whose night it will be to go off. There's a reason we are ranked in the top of the country in hitting percentage. Our middles do a great job of getting available each play to keep our opponents block honest."
Souza led the team with 14 digs to pick up her third double-double this season. Wiley College put up 47 for the match. It also tallied four serving aces with Renata Da Silva (JR/Sao Paulo, Brazil) leading the team with two in her first match of the season.
The Lady Wildcats overwhelmed Central Baptist. They notched 46 kills for a .414 hitting percentage and held the Mustangs to 19 and a .049 hitting percentage. In the second straight match, Fedorenko recorded double-digit kills with 10. She also added a solo block and three service aces. Tsvetelina Bozhanova (SR/Razlog, Bulgaria) notched 10 kills with 9 digs. Souza put up 36 assists with 9 digs. Miyah Keller (SR/Beaumont, Texas) led the team with 11 digs.
With his team in control of the match, MacNeill was able to let a couple players receive their first action of the season. Alissa Johnson (JR/Beaumont, Texas) came off the bench and recorded four kills in five attempts with four digs. Teleza Collier (JR/Chicago, Illinois) notched three kills and five block assists.
After a scrimmage at Paul Quinn College on Thursday, the Lady Wildcats will open Red River Athletic Conference play at the University of the Southwest on Saturday.