Philadelphia, Pa. – (9/5/2018) – Chestnut Hill College welcomed Wilmington University to Sorgenti Arena for today's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) season opener. The Griffins won the opening set by a 25-20 final and lead early in the second frame, but the Wildcats rallied for a 28-26 second-set win before stealing the match with a pair of 25-21 wins; 3-1 (20-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-21). Senior setter Kennedy Sutton (Chesapeake, Va.) offered 37 assists, while junior outside hitter Reily Byxbee (Madison, Conn.) shined with a double-double that included a career and team-high 19 kills (19 points) and a team-high 18 digs.
 
Chestnut Hill College (1-3, 0-1) fed off 10 first-set assists from Sutton to get an early 1-0 (25-20) advantage over Wilmington University (3-6, 1-0). Unfortunately, the visitors stole the momentum from the Scarlet and Gold midway through the second set, overcoming an 11-7 deficit and tying the frame at 22-22, before stealing a 28-26 win (1-1). The Wildcats used the drive to keep their distance from the Griffins in a 25-21 third-set win (2-1). They matched that score in the fourth set, 25-21, warding off a late Chestnut Hill College rally to conclude event on a 3-1 spread.
 
Three Wildcats recorded double digit kills and double-digit points; sophomore outside Mandy Behiels (Edmonton, Canada) was chief among them with 13 kills and 17.5 points. She also recorded an assist, three aces, 17 digs, and a pair of blocks. Senior Miranda Shaw (Boston, Va.) and junior Jill Braunsburg (Birdsboro, Pa.) shared the point, recording 20 and 21 assists, respectively. Graduate libero Jenna Brown (Darnestown, Md.) totaled 24 digs, while her teammates combined for nine blocks.
 
Byxbee added four assists to her double-double. She was joined in double digit kills by junior middle hitter Cassie Callahan (St. Louis, Mo.), who scored 13 kills and assisted on a block for 13.5 points. Freshman defensive specialist Kerri Sullivan (West Brandywine, Pa.) scored two of the Griffins' three aces, while Byxbee (18 digs), Sutton (17), Sullivan (15), junior defensive specialist Janie Green (Hayes, Va.) (15), and junior libero Kara Turtzer (La Habra Heights, Calif.) (14) all recorded double digit digs.
 
Chestnut Hill College competes next on Friday, September 7, when they visit Wilmington University for the Wildcat Regional Invitational. They will engage both Franklin Pierce University (3:00 p.m.) and Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) (7:00 p.m.) on the first day of play.