NEWARK, Del. – Despite a career-high 25 digs from sophomore libero Lauren Mack (Valparaiso, Ind.), the Felician University women's volleyball team suffered a 3-0 (28-26, 25-13, 25-14) Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference loss to host Wilmington (Del.) University on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.   

Wilmington (5-7, 1-1 CACC) received a triple-double from setter/opposite hitter Jill Braunsberg (Birdsboro, Pa.). The sophomore hit .310 on the night and produced 12 kills, 11 assists, and 18 digs.

The match turned at the end of a back-and-forth first set, Felician's longest, by points, of the season. The Golden Falcons were ahead by as much as 13-8, and remained in the lead until the Wildcats evened the score at 19-19. Trailing, 22-20, Wilmington captured the next four rallies, including two kills by Braunsburg, to move within one point of victory.

The Golden Falcons saved a pair of set points, then used a Paulina Calero (El Centro, Calif.) kill to move ahead, 25-24. Wilmington rebounded for a 26-25 edge but was unable to close out, then Wildcat junior Brittany Ford (Newark, Del.) landed an attack just inside the back line. Given another set point, Wilmington finished off the Golden Falcons, 28-26, on an Erin Bistany (Greenbelt, Md.) kill.

The Wildcats rode the momentum to a 12-5 second-set lead. Felician eventually fell behind, 18-8, and could not put a significant run together. The Golden Falcons wound up with a negative team attack percentage for the set.

Set 3 was even at 5-5. Ahead, 8-6, Wilmington won three straight points on two kills and a block by Deja Stanek (Loganville, Ga.). Following a Felician side-out, the Wildcats pulled away by taking seven of the next eight rallies for a 17-8 edge en route to completing the three-set victory.

Calero topped the Felician offense with nine kills and added 15 digs. Sophomore Charlotte Greek (Menifee, Calif.) totaled 23 assists and seven digs and junior Baylei Furman (Kaneohe, Hawaii) added six kills and six digs for the Golden Falcons (1-6, 0-2).

Wilmington sophomore libero Addalyn Flores (La Plata, Md.) led all players with 31 digs.

After seven matches away from Rutherford, Felician finally plays its home opener on Friday in CACC action against Bloomfield College. First service is set for 7 p.m.