For The Dialog
CLAYMONT – A packed house filled the Moglia Fieldhouse on Monday night to watch host Archmere against the state’s second-ranked team, Delaware Military Academy, in a key Diamond State Athletic Conference match, and they were treated to a tense, five-set thriller won by DMA.
Archmere put the Seahawks in rally mode early by jumping out to a 17-6 lead in the first set, thanks to the defense of libero Tori Falasco and the kills of Zoe Akoto. DMA used a few aces from Sydney Fulton and thunderous kills by Victoria Taylor and Cassie Kowalski to score 10 straight. After another run, the Seahawks had a 24-21 lead. Archmere fought off two set points, but DMA took the first one on a double hit by the Auks.
Archmere rebounded from that disappointment to take the next two sets, 25-14 and 25-21, and the Auks looked poised to hand Delaware Military its first loss to an in-state opponent this season. Taylor, however, had other ideas, booming several kills in the fourth set, which DMA won by a 25-20 count.
The deciding fifth set was back-and-forth until DMA went on a run and was able to close it out with a 15-11 win.
Taylor led the Seahawks with 33 kills, while Kowalski added 19. Fulton recorded 54 assists for DMA, which is now 12-1 and fighting for the top seed in the state tournament. The Seahawks’ next game is Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Wilmington Christian.
Archmere received 16 kills from Akoto, while Falasco had 26 digs. The Auks are 8-4 and play their remaining three matches at home, with the next one Thursday vs. St. Mark’s at 6:15 p.m.
