DePaul University Athletics
Volleyball Defeats Southern Miss in Five-Game Marathon
10/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Hattiesburg, Miss. -- The DePaul volleyball team needed five games to defeat Southern Miss 28-30, 26-30, 30-26, 30-21, 15-12. DePaul improves to 6-2 in Conference USA and 15-4 overall.
The Blue Demons were led by senior Stephanie Bishop who continued her hot play. Bishop led the Demons with a match-high 24 kills, 16 digs and a .358 hitting percentage. She is now 11 kills shy of setting the conference career record for kills.
"Bishop really took control of the match tonight, especially in the third game," commented DePaul head coach Dawn Dockstader. "She carried the team on her shoulders and played outstanding tonight. She refused to lose."
After dropping the first two games, the Blue Demons charged out of the gate in game three building an early 8-1 lead. The Demons never trailed the entire game. Southern Miss tied the score at 19-19, but DePaul was too tough down the stretch winning 30-26.
The Blue Demons won the fourth game in more comfortable fashion. Bishop and sophomore Lara Marks each tallied seven kills to lead the Demons. DePaul hit a .435 and held 10-point leads three different times forcing a decisive fifth game.
DePaul jumped out early once again in the fifth game. The Demons jumped out to a 9-2 lead and held on the rest of the way for the tough victory.
Dockstader explained, "This was a good, hard-fought victory. We showed a lot of character coming back from a 0-2 deficit and winning in a hostile environment."
Marks finished with 16 kills, 10 block assists and a .406 hitting percentage. Senior Melissa Nordine added 14 kills and 14 digs and senior Christa Dirr finished with 12 kills.
The Blue Demons next travel to New Orleans for a showdown with Tulane tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.
