WILMINGTON, N.C. – Closing out the final game of the season with a fighting spirit, William & Mary volleyball fell just short of the victory in Wilmington, dropping the match in five sets, 3-2 (25-17, 23-25, 26-24, 15-25, 7-15), to UNCW.

The Tribe dropped to a 13-15 overall record and 8-10 in the CAA while the Seahawks moved to 11-17 and 9-9 as both teams faced elimination from playoff contention. 

Throughout 2023, the Tribe saw success building on the court, earning multiple milestone wins, surpassing 2022 for the most single-season victories with their 13^th on Nov. 5 against Northeastern and earning eight CAA wins, which marked the most in a season since 2009.

W&M will continue to write their story of success under the leadership of Head Coach Ryan Adams as they look to the 2024 season.

In Sunday's season finale, W&M started the match in dominant fashion, recording a .258 hitting percentage to UNCW's .065 and not allowing a single Seahawks block.

Sarah Callender and Amy Schwem each recorded double-doubles in the match. Callender hit a team-best 12 kills and 15 digs while Schwem added 25 assists and 16 digs. Senior Maddie Meyers was a kill shy of her own double-double with nine kills and 10 digs. 

Emma Minnick tied her career-high three aces for the fifth time this season, adding a pair back-to-back in the Green and Gold's opening-set victory. 

UNCW jumped out to a 3-0 lead to open the match before the Tribe came back to make their dominant run. Five kills in the Tribe's first six points were courtesy of Callender and Eleanor Stothoff, and a block from Nicole Smith and Olivia Esposito tied the set at 7-7.

The Tribe took a dominant run and capitalized on a few UNCW mistakes to take a seven-point lead at 22-15. Once again, Smith and Esposito were steadfast at the net, capping the first set at 25-17 with a block.

UNCW kept a close game in the second set, holding the Tribe to not more than a two-point lead in the set and not forcing more than a three-point deficit for the Green and Gold.

Trading points for most of the second frame, a kill from Meyers produced the 13^th tied score of the set at 23-23 before the Seahawks evened the match at a set apiece.

The Tribe was trailing early in the third set as the Seahawks jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Going neck-and-neck in the middle of the frame, replicating the back-and-forth battle from the second set, the teams remained within a few points.

UNCW broke through with a 7-1 run to take a six-point lead. A lead which the Seahawks would hold on to until a battle at set point. Trailing 24-21, the Tribe made their final comeback with a 5-0 run to survive Seahawks' set point three times and regain their advantage in the match, 2-1.
 
The Seahawks dominated play in the fourth set, taking back the momentum from the Tribe's win in the third frame.

Jumping out to an early lead on a 4-0 scoring run, UNCW maintained their lead to tie the match, 2-2.

Heading to a decisive fifth set, the Tribe hoped to swing the momentum back in their favor, but the Seahawks carried over their dominant showing from the fourth frame.

Limiting errors, which had been the biggest setback for the Seahawks in the match, UNCW was able to hold the Tribe to seven points.

The Tribe look towards 2024 for their second year with Coach Adams at the helm, as they hope to find similar success and keep building upon the milestones met this season.

Follow the Tribe
Follow William & Mary volleyball on Twitter/X (@WMTribeVB), Instagram (@WMTribeVB) and Facebook (/WMTribeVB)for more information, matchday updates and Tribe volleyball content.