The Wilmington College volleyball team opened the season with a pair of 3-1 losses as the Fightin’ Quakers hosted a tri-match Friday at Fred Raizk Arena in Hermann Court.

“I thought we had stretches of playing very good volleyball throughout both matches,” said Wilmington head coach Tim O’Brien. “Unfortunately, we were not consistent enough in a couple areas of the game, and I think that’s why we lost both matches.”

Against Edison College in the opener, Wilmington won the first set 25-23 before falling in three straight, 25-19, 25-14, 25-17.

Freshmen Jillian Wesco and Karley Schlensker combined for 24 of the team’s 44 kills. Both players tallied double-doubles as Schlensker finished with 11 kills and 12 digs, and Wesco tallied 13 kills and 11 digs.

Senior Becca Harting added 10 digs. Freshman Lauryn Griewahn dished out a team-high 32 assists.

“Our setters, freshman Lauryn Griewahn and sophomore Alyssa McKenzie, did a nice job while dealing with injuries all night,” O’Brien said. “They made great decisions for the most part and will continue to get better timing with our attackers.”

Against OU-Chillicothe, after dropping the first set, 25-22, Wilmington fought back for a gutsy 32-30 win in the second set. However, the momentum couldn’t carry over as OU-Chillicothe sealed the victory with 25-16 and 25-18 wins.

Freshman Ariel Goforth tallied her first career double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs. Schlensker added 11 kills and 10 digs, while Wesco tallied 10 kills and nine digs. Griewahn dished out 27 assists, while sophomore Alyssa McKenzie added 14 assists.

Sophomore Amber Rox recorded two solo blocks and two block assists, while sophomore Meghan Koch had four block assists.

“Wesco did an outstanding job attacking in the middle, serve receiving and attacking out of the back row,”O’Brien said. “She is a game-changing athlete, and her presence was felt all night.”

Wilmington travels to Franklin 7 p.m. Wednesday to play the Grizzlies in non-conference action.