New Hanover is 1-9 against Ashley since September of 2021 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Wildcats will host the Screaming Eagle at 6:00 p.m.
New Hanover came up short against West Brunswick on Tuesday, falling 3-0.
New Hanover took the loss but they managed to make steady progress, increasing their score in every set they played. Once all was said and done, the final score wound up at 25-13, 25-16, 25-19.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Ashley, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Tuesday. They walked away with a 3-1 win over North Brunswick on Tuesday. The victory was some much needed relief for the Screaming Eagle as it spelled an end to their three-match losing streak.
The match finished with set scores of 25-22, 25-16, 19-25, 25-21.
Ashley's win came from a few key players New Hanover will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Sarah Brannin, who had 27 assists and nine digs. She has been hot recently, having posted 27 or more assists the last three times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Rylan Putnam, who had 19 assists and six digs.
Ashley's win bumped their record up to 12-8. As for New Hanover, their loss dropped their record down to 5-13.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Thursday's matchup: New Hanover has really dialed in their serving this season, having averaged 9.2 aces per game. However, it's not like Ashley struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.8 aces. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
New Hanover came up short against Ashley when the teams last played back in September, falling 3-1. Will the Wildcats have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other volleyball content.
