New Castle, Del. – Millersville used 12 kills by junior Emily Bires en route to a 3-1 victory over Nyack College and later avenged an early-season loss to Wilmington behind a triple-double performance from junior Meredith Sinback to push the Marauders' season-best winning streak to four games on Saturday.
Millersville (9-15) needed just four sets in its early match with Nyack (8-15) winning by scores of 25-6, 19-25, 25-16 and 25-13. Bires, the Marauders' leading hitter, led the squad with 12 kills while Sinback and freshman Hannah Duckworth each pitched in with seven for the streaking Marauders.
In a match that saw MU record 11 aces, three by both Bires and freshman Devin Fortney, the team started with a near-perfect set committing just one attack error in the frame.
After Nyack responded to tie the match at one game apiece, Millersville dominated the net in sets three and four. The Marauders recorded 12 kills in the third set and 13 more in the fourth set to close out the win.
Millersville used the momentum of their first match to take an early two sets-to-none lead over Wilmington (16-13). A 25-20 victory in game one coupled with a tight 26-24 win in set two gave the visiting Marauders the confidence they needed to avenge an early-season loss to the Wildcats. Wilmington knocked off Millersville in a five-setter back on September 6 at the Dutch Country Spiketacular at Millersville.
The Wildcats responded winning sets three and four by scores of 25-20 and 25-17, respectively. Millersville lost its rhythm and committed a match-high 13 attack errors in the fourth set while Wilmington recorded just four kills in the frame.
Millersville eventually shook the Wildcats and took the final set, 16-14, thanks in large part to the strong all-around play of Sinback.
Sinback led the Marauders with 12 kills and 20 assists and collected 11 digs along the way. Bires made it three straight games with double-digit kills as she recorded 11 slams for the Marauders.
Freshman setter Brittany Lease recorded 19 helpers during the match while the Marauders' defensive specialist Laura Navin racked up a season-high 31 digs. Fortney and senior Kathy Howard each chipped in with double-digit digs for Millersville.
The Marauders will look to extend their winning streak to five games when they travel to PSAC East opponent Lock Haven on Tuesday with game time set for 7 p.m.
