CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Warren Wilson College recorded 10 service aces, including five from Akeela Cunningham, but the Owls dropped a 25-21, 25-19, 25-20 decision to Johnson & Wales University on Tuesday evening in Charlotte.
The loss moves Warren Wilson to 2-12 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Johnson & Wales improves to 4-11 overall and 1-1 in league action.
Cunningham led the Owls with 13.5 points, finishing with seven kills, five service aces, five digs, one solo block and one block assist. Pandora Keele matched Cunningham with seven kills while adding a team-high 13 digs and two service aces.
Aubrey Wachacha provided an efficient offensive performance, recording six kills on 12 attempts with just one error for a team-best .417 hitting percentage. She also contributed two service aces.
Josie McCoy directed the Warren Wilson offense with 19 assists and nine digs, while Kylee Egidi added 10 digs, two assists and a service ace.
The Owls remained competitive throughout the three-set match, reaching at least 19 points in every frame. Johnson & Wales secured the opening set, 25-21, before taking the second, 25-19. Warren Wilson continued to battle in the third but fell 25-20 as the Wildcats completed the sweep.
