DURHAM, N.C. – The Wofford volleyball team completed play in the Duke Invitational on Saturday, falling to UNC Wilmington in a five-set battle before sweeping North Carolina Central on the road. Junior middle blocker Riley Coonan was named to the all-tournament team, totaling 30 kills and 15 kills over the weekend, while Catie Cronister recorded a pair of double-doubles, totaling 28 kills and 37 digs in the two matches.
The Terriers claimed the first two sets against UNC Wilmington, but dropped the last three (25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 26-28, 17-19) to take the loss. Wofford rebounded in match two of the day, downing North Carolina Central 25-16, 25-18, 25-22. Wofford is now 1-6 on the season and opens up home play with Presbyterian on Wednesday.
Match 1: UNC Wilmington 3, Wofford 2
The teams looked even to open the first set, with Wofford taking a slight lead. Towards the end, the Terriers were able to put away UNC Wilmington, taking the last three points as Kennedy Smith finished off the set with a kill. The second set started much like the first, but a 7-0 gave Wofford control of the set, with Cronister giving the Terriers a 25-20 win via a kill.
Continuing to trade points, UNC Wilmington took a 15-12 lead aiming to force a fourth set. Cronister and Smith led the Terriers back, knotting the set at 20-20, pulling ahead when Meghan Yaffa sent home her fifth kill of the afternoon. The Seahawks answered, taking five of the last six points to win the set 25-22. UNC Wilmington took the momentum and ran with it, taking a 14-7 lead in the fourth. Wofford mounted a furious comeback, taking a 24-23 lead when Kelly Bossert sent home a kill. The Seahawks recovered, eventually edging out Wofford 28-26.
The fifth and final set was down to the wire, after Bossert sent home a kill to even the match at 17, UNC Wilmington was able to record back-to-back scores and take the set and the match.
Match 2: Wofford 3, North Carolina Central 0
North Carolina Central jumped out to a 7-3 lead to start the match, but Wofford scored five points in a row to take the one-point advantage. With the scored tied at 9-9, the Terriers took six of the next seven points, extending their lead to grab set one 25-16.
The two sides went point-for-point to start the second until the Eagles took a 10-8 lead. Trailing by three, Wofford rallied to make the score 14-13 in favor of the Terriers, making it a five-point advantage with a kill from Smith. Wofford's Claire Meier would finish off the Eagles with a kill that made the score 25-18.
The third and final set was even until a trio of kills from Cronister put the Terriers ahead by three. North Carolina Central would rally to tie the score at 16-16, but Wofford pulled ahead by taking four of the next five points. With the score 23-18 in favor of the Terriers, the Eagles rallied to within two points but Cronister finished the match off with a kill to give Wofford its first victory of the season.
Duke Invitational All-Tournament team
Lily Cooper, Duke
Sarah Nelson, Duke
Payton Schwantz, Duke
Emma Reilly, Appalachian State
Kara Spicer, Appalachian State
Jamie Thomas, UNCW
Riley Coonan, Wofford
