Volleyball unable to finish off Centenary
SHREVEPORT, La. - The Wiley University volleyball team held leads in all three sets but could not stop Centenary College of Louisiana in a three-set loss (25-19, 25-21, 25-16) Tuesday at the Gold Dome.
The Lady Wildcats (0-8, 0-4 HBCUAC) played their first match away from Alumni Gymnasium. They outscored the Ladies 35-34 in kills however, the latter was more effective on the attack, hitting .208 to Wiley's .175. Serving was once again a struggle for the Lady Wildcats, who allowed 26 points on 14 aces and 12 errors. They only recorded seven aces and benefitted from two serving errors by the Ladies.
Wiley trailed early in the first set. Maria Guinyard got an ace and Madisyn Moore got a kill to put it ahead 11-10. Centenary answered with two kills and took advantage of a receiving error by the Lady Wildcats to claim a two-point lead. Wiley stayed within striking distance until it made a blocking, attacking and two receiving errors, increasing the margin to five. Kills by Shyla Starks and Rachelle Santos pulled Wiley within two but Centenary finished the set with four answered points.
The Lady Wildcats pulled ahead 12-4 in the second set. Santos had three service aces and Starks recorded five kills. Errors plagued Wiley, as it allowed Centenary to go on a six-point run to close the margin to two. A service ace by Santos put Wiley ahead 19-18. Three attacking errors led to six unanswered points for the Ladies, who took a four-point lead.
A kill by Lynnetra Taylor gave Wiley an early lead in the third set. Two hitting and a receiving error let Centenary claim momentum as it built a four-point lead. The Lady Wildcats could not rally as the Ladies pushed the lead as high as eight.
Starks recorded her second consecutive match with double-digit kills at 13. Santos followed with seven. Taylor split the setting duties with Maria Luiza Chaves and led the team with 17 assists. Chaves contributed 12. Guinyard provided 10 digs and a service ace. Moore, Nadia Cortez, Santos and Johna Davis had block assists.
The Lady Wildcats will resume Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference play with their first pod at Fisk University. They will face Wilberforce University at 2 p.m. Friday and the host Bulldogs at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Wiley closes the pod against Rust College at 9 a.m.
For more coverage on the Lady Wildcats visit Women's Volleyball Home - Wiley University (wileyathletics.com)
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 12 varsity sports, women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
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