GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson volleyball team defeated Thiel, 3-1, and Waynesburg, 3-0, to improve to 8-2 on the season, including 3-1 in PAC play, on Saturday, Sept. 17.

After dropping the first set, 25-22, to Thiel, W&J won the next three by final scores of 25-13, 25-20, 25-20.

Lexi Hilzendeger (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) was a force on offense as she led the Presidents with 17 kills and a .353 hitting percentage. Taylor Freeman (Cresson, Pa./Penn Cambria) finished second on the team in kills, with 10, and digs, with 25, to go along with a .267 hitting percentage. Julia Bernesser (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) and Abbey Eich (Greencastle, Pa./St. Maria Goretti (Md.)) also had strong showings as they both recorded eight kills.

Emily Toy (Freeport, Pa./Freeport) and Mallory O'Brien (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led the way with 25 assists and 20 assists, respectively, while Allison Means (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville Area) led the defense with 26 digs.

The Presidents held advantages in kills (54-48), blocks (10-6) and digs (97-85) in their first match.

The team continued its solid play through the second match against Waynesburg, winning three sets in a row by final scores of 25-12, 25-17, 25-14.

Madison Lydic (Erie, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) led the Presidents' offense with 12 kills and a .647 hitting percentage. Bernesser and Eich finished finished second and third on the team in the match in kills, with Bernesser finishing with seven and Eich finishing with five.

O'Brien finished with a match-high 22 assists while Means recorded a match-high 21 digs.

The Presidents held advantages over the Yellow Jackets in kills (35-15), service aces (7-3), blocks (7-4), assists (28-15) and digs (49-36).

W&J returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 20, when they host Pitt-Greensburg for a 7 p.m. nonconference matchup.