Sophomore hitter Hanna Roach and versatile freshman Josie Sheets led a well-rounded attack as Mary Baldwin snapped a four-match losing streak with a 3-1 non-conference victory at Wilson College Tuesday.  The 25-23, 14-25, 25-20 and 25-17 triumph improved MBU's record to 2-7 and equaled the team's 2022 mark for wins.

Roach provided the power from the outside, drilling 13 kills and a .225 hitting percentage.  Many of those points were the result of diving defensive plays by back row standouts Savannah Figueroa, Sol Rios Rolon, Emily Penny and Jaisley Tibayan, who combined for 27 of the team's 37 digs.

Sheets was a steady force in all positions, contributing seven kills (.211 hitting percentage), a team-high 24 assists, a solo block and three block assists, three service aces and four digs.  Penny was also a major contributor setting up the attack with 14 assists.

The key to the victory may have been MBU's rally in the first set.  The visitors rallied from two seven-point deficits (16-9 and 18-11) by scoring 14 of the next 18 points  Jaci McAlwee served three-straight points and Tibayan was on serve for the final five points.

After Wilson posted an 11-point win in Set 2, the teams played back-and-forth in Set 3 before Tibayan served up another five-straight points to help MBU to a 2-1 advantage.  In Set 4, MBU scored the first five points on Rios-Rolon serves and led throughout.  Wilson closed within three points in the middle of the set, but the Fighting Squirrels pulled away again late behind four-straight points off Tibayan serves.

MBU opens USA South Conference action Saturday with a tri-match at Brevard.  The Fighting Squirrels play the host Tornados at 10 a.m., followed by a clash against Methodist at noon.