BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College women's volleyball team captured its fifth consecutive victory with a 3-0 sweep of Wilkes University in non-conference action in Johnston Hall Thursday evening.
The Greyhounds, who improve to 7-7 on the season with the 25-13, 25-22, 25-23 win, were also hosting a Gold Out for Pediatric Cancer Awareness as the team helped raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley. Sophomore defensive specialist Alexis Szaro spoke prior to the match.
"I'm very proud of how hard Lexie Szaro worked to put together our inaugural Gold Out for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley," stated Head Coach Shelley Bauder. "She did a great job organizing the event and we were very pleased with the turnout."
The Blue and Grey jumped out to a 3-1 leading the opening set before the Colonels tied the game at 3-3. The Hounds slowly pulled away for the 25-13 set win. The second game would start in Wilkes' favor with the Colonels building a 7-4 lead. However, the service games of Szaro and freshman outside hitter Corinne Frick would put Moravian ahead 12-10. After a brief tie at 12-12, the Hounds pulled away to win the set 25-22. The third set was close throughout with the game tied seven times early, the final time at 9-9. Sophomore setter Victoria Kauffman served the Greyhounds to a 15-9 lead. Wilkes eventually tied the set again at 21-21 and 23-23 before Moravian scored the final two points for the win including an ace by senior defensive specialist Ashton Galasso for the match point, 25-23.
"I'm very pleased with how we started the match with extreme focus and determination," Bauder said. "It was great to play everyone and get the sweep as well."
Senior outside hitter Mary Zacher paced the Moravian offense with 14 kills to go with nine digs and a pair of assists while freshman middle blocker Madi Anslow contributed ten kills. Junior middle blocker Erin Tiger added eight kills and a pair of blocks for the Greyhounds while Frick had six kills and five digs.
Kauffman controlled the Hounds' offense with 35 assists to go with 10 digs and three kills while senior libero Jean Makovic had a team-high 18 digs to go with three service aces. Junior right side hitter Rachel Farmer contributed a pair of kills while Szaro had five digs and junior defensive specialist Bridgette Devlin added three digs.
Moravian is slated to return to action on Saturday, September 23 in a tri-match at Franklin & Marshall College with Haverford College beginning at 2:30 p.m. against the Fords.
