For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Third-seeded Archmere and 11th-seeded Charter met in the playoffs for the second straight season, and once again, the Auks came out on top. This time, the Auks swept the Force in a quarterfinal matchup Tuesday night at the St. E Center.
The Force, looking for revenge from last year’s championship match, jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first set, led by freshman Madeline Matheny. The Auks found their game after that, with a tight defense and a balanced offense. Alexis Kelly, Zoe Akoto and Grace Merritt all had kills as Archmere rebounded for a 20-12 lead, and Sami Mengers ended the set with an ace.
The second set was all Archmere, as a couple of Victoria Falasco aces helped spot the Auks to a 17-8 advantage. The second set ended like the first, as Mengers delivered another ace.
In the third, Akoto and Kelly landed some big kills early. Matheny helped keep the Force in the set as her kill cut the Archmere lead to 9-6. Mengers and Kelly added kills during a five-point Auks run, and Archmere continued its onslaught. Mengers scored the final point yet again, this time with a kill.
Akoto led the Auks with 12 kills, while Mengers added six. Archmere (15-2) will meet Padua in the second semifinal on Thursday night at St. Mark’s, following the battle between Ursuline and Delaware Military Academy. That match begins at 6 p.m.
