WILMINGTON, DE. – After a dominant first-set victory and a hard-fought battle throughout, the Millersville University volleyball team ultimately fell in four sets to the Wilmington University Wildcats. Set scores were 25-17. 25-16. 25-19, and 25-15.
 
Millersville (4-12, 0-3) put up a solid stat line with 47 kills, 45 assists, six aces, four blocks, and 65 digs. However, Wilmington (10-7, 6-0 CACC) held the edge offensively, finishing with a .278 hitting percentage to outpace the Marauders. Taylor Welter powered the Marauders' offense with a team-high 16 kills, while Trinity Baldwin and Kat Dalessio combined for 36 assists to keep the attack rolling. On defense, Amanda Protzman stood tall at the net with three blocks, and Becca Hartranft anchored the back row with 21 digs.
 
The Marauders came out strong, taking an early three-point lead with contributions from Welter and Caroline Halsey. After the Wildcats narrowed the gap to one, Millersville responded with a 7-2 scoring run powered by Welter, Protzman, Alex Nava, and Hartranft. With momentum building and a five-point advantage, the Marauders added four unanswered points to extend their lead even further. Up 17-6, Millersville hit a rough patch, allowing the Wildcats to chip away at the lead due to a few unforced errors. At 18-13, Welter halted the Wildcats' run with a key kill. Although the Wildcats added two more points, the Marauders closed the set on a 5-2 run to secure the first set victory.
 
The Wildcats came out firing in the second set, opening with four straight points to seize early momentum. Welter and Halsey responded with key plays to bring the Marauders within one at 5-4. However, Wilmington surged ahead with a 6-0 scoring run, and Millersville struggled to regain their footing, falling into a 17-6 deficit midway through the set. Hailey Lazur sparked some life into the Marauders' offense, leading a 4-1 run that trimmed the gap to nine. Trailing 24-13, Millersville showed resilience, staving off three set points with clutch kills from Lazur and Nava. Despite the late push, the Wildcats closed it out, taking the second set.
 
The third set was a tightly contested battle, with both teams trading points early on. Wilmington pulled ahead with a slight 6-4 lead before Halsey responded to stop the run. Two Wildcat errors then allowed the Marauders to edge ahead by one. As the set reached a 15-15 deadlock, Wilmington regained momentum with a pair of points, forcing Millersville to play catch-up. Sam White momentarily broke the run, but the Wildcats answered with two more points to extend their lead to three. The Marauders struggled to regain control defensively, allowing a 3-0 Wilmington run that widened the gap. Lazur halted the push with a timely kill, but Millersville couldn't turn the tide and ultimately dropped the third set.
 
Millersville found themselves playing from behind early in the fourth set, falling into a quick 2-0 hole. A block from Lazur and Welter sparked a response, helping the Marauders tie the set at 2-2. However, Wilmington answered with a 4-0 run to retake control. Midway through the set, Millersville continued to battle but struggled to gain consistent momentum. Welter stepped up once again, igniting a 5-1 run that brought the Marauders back within three. Trailing 16-13, Millersville couldn't hold off the Wildcats' final surge, as Wilmington closed out the set on a dominant 9-2 run to secure the match in four sets.

"We tried a new line-up tonight," said Millersville coach Brian Smith. "It gave us better options. We started off strong, but we just didn't stay consistent. Overall, it was a better performance."
 
The Marauders' next match is Friday, Oct 10 when they host the Bald Eagles from Lock Haven at 6 p.m.