WILMINGTON, N.C. - Sophomore outside hitter Lindsay Kresch posted a match-high 26 kills to lead William and Mary to a 3-2 (23-25, 25-27, 29-27, 25-14, 15-11) come-from-behind victory over UNC Wilmington in Colonial Athletic Association volleyball action Friday at Hanover Hall.
The Tribe improved to 17-10 overall and 9-4 in league play as it clinch a spot in next weekend's Colonial Athletic Association Volleyball Championship. The Seahawks slipped to 13-17 and 3-10 under first-year Head Coach Amy Bambenek.
Kresch turned in a .303 attack percentage as she committed just six attack errors in 66 total attempts to pace a W&M attack that combined for a .221 hitting percentage in the match. She was one of three W&M players to record double-figure kills as senior outside hitter Lauren Powell pitched in 16 and junior outside hitter Erin Skipper added 14.
Junior setter Cassie Crumal benefitted from the balanced Tribe attack as she dished out a match-high 51 assists.
Senior defensive specialist Lindey Pflugner added to her league-leading dig totals as she posted a match-high 29 digs. Pflugner was one of three Tribe players to reach double figures in digs as Kresch added 15 and Powell pitched in 14 as both players recorded double-doubles.
Junior middle blocker Ginny Bray highlighted the Tribe's defensive efforts at the net with a team-high six block assists. Bray also recorded a match-best four service aces.
Senior outside hitter Lindsey Strucko and junior outside hitter Kelli Clear both turned in double-double performances for UNCW as Stucko matched her career-high with 18 kills and added 13 digs for her team-leading 13th double-double while Clear notched 10 kills and chipped in 15 digs for her third double-double of the season and the second in as many contests.
Freshman setter Natalie LaHaie quarterbacked the Seahawks attack as she recorded a career-high 44 assists and added five digs.
Sophomore middle hitter Kimberly Friedl finished just shy of recording her first career double-double as she matched her career-high with 11 kills and chipped a match-best nine total blocks.
Senior libero Ashlyn Morris led the Seahawks with 26 digs as she surpassed the 1,500 dig total for her career. Junior middle hitter Rachael Caricato tallied 10 digs and added eight kills.
Both teams return to action Sunday as they close out the regular season with conference matches. UNCW hosts VCU in a 1 p.m. contest at Hanover Hall while W&M is at Georgia State in a Noon start.
