Wesleyan volleyball downs Chowan in five-set thriller, 3-2

Rocky Mount, NC - On DIG PINK night in Everett Gymnasium, the Battling Bishop volleyball squad of North Carolina Wesleyan treated fans to one of its most exciting games of the season by downing Chowan University in a five-set thriller by a 3-2 score (25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-10). The Bishops, who sported pink shoelaces and pink towels to promote breast cancer awareness (pictured), had three players tally double-digit kills as Brittany Insley (18), Barbara DeRatt (15), and Leslie Hassell (12) all turned in solid performances. With their 11th straight victory, the Bishops improve to 21-6 on the season. The Hawks now stand at 17-9 overall.

An evenly-played match throughout, the two squads fought to a 2-2 tie after four sets. In the fifth and deciding game, Chowan held a slim 10-9 advantage down the stretch. The Bishops, however, pushed six straight points with the help of three Hawk attack errors and kills by Insley and DeRatt.

The Bishops finished with 55 kills as a team to Chowan's 53.  NCWC also held a slight advantage in blocks at 9-6, while both teams recorded 10 service aces.

Hassell and Insley completed double-doubles with 14 and 12 digs, respectively.  Insley also turned in five blocks, as did sophomore teammate Carla Pridgen.  Kelly George once again anchored the Bishop defense with a team-high 17 digs, while freshman setter Mackenzie Tingle dished out 46 assists and had a game-high six service aces.

For the Hawks, Netta McCoullough turned in a team-high 16 digs, and Nicole Shoup tallied a game-high 20 digs. Melissa Hallam had 42 assists in the losing effort.

Prior to the match, the Battling Bishops took monetary donations for the Side-Out Foundation, the official sponsor of the DIG PINK initiative.  Between its online and cash tallies, North Carolina Wesleyan has thusfar raised $222.03 to aid in breast cancer research. Fans can continue to give online by visiting http://www.sideoutvolleyball.org/mainevent/minievent/NCWesleyanColle/.

Wesleyan will return to USA South action on Saturday when the Bishops visit Greensboro College for a league tri-match. NCWC will take on Mary Baldwin at 2:00 p.m. and the host Pride at 4:00 p.m.