D. Wilson turns in all-around day with double digits in kills, digs and assists

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College women's volleyball team got back on track in the win column on Saturday as the Lyons defeated Connecticut College, 3-1, and Keene State, 3-0, to push its winning streak to three-straight matches. The Blue and White bested Connecticut College by scores of 25-23, 17-25, 25-19 and 25-22 and Keene State by scores of 25-17, 25-23 and 25-23.

Wheaton junior Deirdre Wilson (Aptos, Calif./Aptos) compiled a team-leading 25 kills (3.57 per set), 26 assists (3.71 per set), 23 digs (3.29 per set), eight block assists and three service aces combined in both matches to highlight the Lyons' efforts on the afternoon. Classmate Arieanne Creighton (Brookline, N.H./Hollis Brookline) and sophomore Colleen Koen (Centerville, Mass./Barnstable) added 12 kills each, while junior Sarah Alexander (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga) had 11 swings fall in for points. Taylor Matook (Exeter, R.I./Exeter-West Greenwich) chipped in with nine kills and seven block assists.

Offensively, sophomore Caitlin Hellebrand (Corona, Calif./Santiago) engineered the attack with 32 assists (4.57 per set), one service ace and ten digs. Defensively, classmate Olivia Wilson (Alameda, Calif./Head Royce) led the squad with 32 digs (4.57 per set). First-year Jodi Katz (Needham, Mass./Needham) collected 22 digs, while Stephanie Martin (Centerville, Mass./Barnstable) notched 14 digs. The Lyons totaled 15 blocks on the day in two matches along with 116 digs, 76 kills, 70 assists and ten service aces.

WHEATON 3, CONN. COLLEGE 1 (25-23, 17-25, 25-19)

Match one of the day featured a total of 26 ties and 12 lead changes before Wheaton claimed a 3-1 victory over the Camels. Set one went back-and-forth all the way up until a 21-21 tie between both squads as the Lyons took advantage of two errors from Conn. College to push the score even after trailing late in the set. Wheaton then used that momentum to turn in its 25-23 triumph with a service ace and a kill by Koen to highlight the run. Martin also held serve for six-straight points to aid the Lyons comeback win.

In set two, Conn. College came out swinging with a .250 hitting percentage – its best of the entire set – and ten kills total. The Camels received three kills apiece from three different student-athletes to even the match up at 1-1. Wheaton responded in set three with a match-high .308 hitting percentage and ten kills. D. Wilson compiled three putaways, while Casey Hess (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) and Alexander each had two. Set three featured just one tie as the Lyons led from a 3-2 score all the way to the conclusion of the set.

Set four showcased nine ties and five leads – the most of any set against Conn. College – as Wheaton took control down the stretch after breaking up a 22-22 tie with a kill from Koen and two errors from the visitors. Koen paced the Blue and White with three putaways and Matook added two kills. Defensively, D. Wilson had six digs, while O. Wilson thwarted five attacks and Katz and Martin produced three digs apiece.

WHEATON 3, KEENE STATE 0 (25-17, 25-23 and 25-23)

Wheaton rolled to its second victory of the day and third-straight since Tuesday as the Lyons registered 38 kills, 35 assists, 52 digs and seven blocks in the triumph over the Owls. D. Wilson fueled the team in match two with 18 kills, ten assists, three service aces and 11 digs. O. Wilson and Katz shined from the back row as well as O. Wilson bumped up 17 attacks (team-high) and Katz contributed 16 digs.

In set one, the Blue and White led from their 13-12 advantage and onward as the hosts posted a 12-5 run to close out the opening stanza. O. Wilson's defensive play highlighted the end of the set as she made a diving, one-armed dig while falling towards the team bench to force an eventual attacking error to make the score 24-15. Back-to-back errors by both teams ended the set at 25-17, but Wheaton used that momentum and its prior win earlier in the day to sweep the tri-match despite late rallies in set two and three from the opposition.

Wheaton only trailed once during the last two sets which occurred in the third frame with the score at its highest point at 4-2 in favor of Keene State. The Lyons built up a lead as large as nine (20-11) in set two and six points (20-14) in set three.

The Lyons (3-3) travels to the campuses of Salve Regina and Roger Williams next weekend to participate in the 34th annual Ocean State Classic. On Friday, Wheaton visits Salve Regina for a matchup at 3 p.m. and also plays Southern Vermont at 5p.m. The following day the Blue and White play against Colby-Sawyer at 9 a.m. and Roger Williams at 11 a.m.

For the latest on Wheaton College Athletics, follow the Lyons via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.