Ursuline falls to Charter, which remains undefeated in volleyball

By
Mike Lang, Dialog Reporter
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Dialog reporter

 

WILMINGTON – The final score may not reflect it, but Ursuline put up a fight in a 3-0 loss to undefeated and top-ranked Charter on Tuesday night at home. The Force took the sets by scores of 25-20, 25-16 and 25-14.

After a close first set, the taller and more experienced Force asserted itself in the final two sets, although the Raiders put up a fight in both. Ursuline did not have the height to match Charter’s Olivia DiMaio, Liz Marcin and Taylor Regan, but the Raiders played their trademark stellar defense, stepping in to block or dig their powerful kill attempts.

Ursuline players watch as a shot gets past Charter's Kelsey Mayhew (2) and Natalie Shannon during Tuesday's match, won by the Force. (The Dialog/Mike Lang)
Ursuline players watch as a shot gets past Charter’s Kelsey Mayhew (2) and Natalie Shannon during Tuesday’s match, won by the Force. (The Dialog/Mike Lang)

Charter (12-0) took control early in the second set, going ahead, 16-9, on a tap by DiMaio. Marcin extended the lead to 20-10 with a kill that fell to the floor after hitting two would-be blockers, but Ursuline responded with a mini-run. Maddie Hughes scored on a kill, followed by back-to-back scores by Kailyn Kampert, prompting Charter to call a timeout.

The Force regained control after the timeout. Kelsey Mayhew surprised the Raiders with a set over the net that found the ground, increasing the Force lead to 23-14. The Raiders added two more points, including an ace by Samantha Davis, but Charter finished it on an unforced Ursuline error, followed by a powerful kill down the middle by DiMaio.

Ursuline's student body was feeling pink Tuesday night to show their support of breast cancer awareness. (The Dialog/Mike Lang)
Ursuline’s student body was feeling pink Tuesday night to show their support of breast cancer awareness. (The Dialog/Mike Lang)

Ursuline held close for the first part of the final set, trailing, 12-8, before Charter took over. A six-point run featuring one kill each from DiMaio, Marcin and Regan, along with a Mayhew ace, put the game out of reach. Marcin gave the Force its biggest lead at 22-9, and she also ended the match with a kill that found its way through two Raiders before hitting the floor.

Charter received 19 kills and 12 digs from Marcin, along with 16 kills from DiMaio. Regan’s 17 digs were second to Gabrielle Jabbour’s 20. The Force is at Newark on Friday at 5 p.m. as the team looks to continue its undefeated ways.

Kampert led Ursuline with 10 kills, while Davis and Taylor Wright – both freshmen – each recorded 15 digs. The Raiders, who fell to 5-5, visit Archmere on Thursday at 6:15 p.m.

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