Wilton sweeps Raiders in 3 sets

WILLIAMSBURG — Wilton took care of business in Williamsburg Thursday night, defeating the Raiders in three sets in a volleyball season opener.

The Raiders were supposed to open the season earlier in the week in a tournament at Lisbon, but that was postponed due to lack of air conditioning in the gym and high temperatures outside.

“With freshman starting in our lineup, we knew we were going to come in with freshman nerves with our first game playing together and it's at home,” Williamsburg head volleyball coach Brittni Powell said.

“We had an injury we were fighting through so we had to mess with the lineups, but its all kind of just excuses because they know what they’re doing.”

Wilton took the first set 25-18.

Kylee Suhr had two kills, and Ellie and Averi Nielsen added two assists each.

The Beavers took the second set by a wider margin, winning 25-12.

The most competitive set of the night came in the third set. The Raiders fought back from a deficit and made things competitive.

Down 17-9, the Raiders went on a little run and forced a Wilton timeout down 20-16.

The match got as close as 21-19, but a few errors down the stretch sealed the 25-20 set win for Wilton and the match victory.

Kylee Suhr and Taylor Otte had two kills each, and Elli Nielsen had three assists in the final set.

"Our hitters just weren’t connecting with our setters. Our defense and passing were there,“ Powell said following the match.

This young Raiders team may take a few matches to gel, but “[their] attitude is great,” Powell said.

“I think confidence is what we need.”

The Raiders will next see action Tuesday in a tournament at Montezuma.