For The Dialog
CLAYMONT – The second-ranked Auks of Archmere used a strong defense to sweep fourth-ranked Wilmington Friends, 3-0, Tuesday evening at Archmere. Set scores were 25-20, 25-21 and 25-20.
The first set was one of runs. Archmere jumped out to a 4-0 lead, the last point coming on a kill by Amy Thompson. But Friends rebounded, scoring 12 of the next 14, including two aces from junior setter Alyssa Nathan, to go ahead, 12-6. The Auks responded in kind, tallying 12 of the next 17 behind their defense and some timely kills by Zoe Akoto. Akoto ended the set a bit later with a thunderous kill.
It was back and forth during the second set, with both teams cranking up the defense. On the offensive side, Quakers freshman Danielle Nathan and sophomore Sloan Maas each had numerous kills to keep their team in the game. A kill by Maas brought Friends to within 22-20, but the Auks took the second when a Quakers kill attempt landed just wide.
The Auks’ team effort was just too much for Friends in the third, and the home team jumped to a 22-16 lead. The Quakers fought off a couple of match points with kills by Maas, but Archmere’s Nicole Kelly ended the action with a kill of her own.
The Auks (11-1) got 11 kills by Akoto and five each from Thompson and Kelly. Senior Tori Falasco led the way with 17 digs, while Sami Mengers added 11 and seven from Tori Mock. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Archmere as third-ranked Padua visits on Friday at 6:15 p.m.
The Quakers (9-2) received 19 kills from Alexandra Musi and 12 from Danielle Nathan. They host St. Andrews on Monday at 5 p.m.
