Marquette 3, DePaul 0
MILWAUKEE – Junior middle blocker Ellen Hayes recorded a .697 attack percentage, but it was not as the DePaul volleyball team was shutout 3-0 (30-25, 30-25, 30-24) by Marquette Friday evening at the Al McGuire Center. The Marquette improves to 8-6, 2-1 in the BIG EAST while DePaul falls to 3-10, 0-2 BIG EAST.
The Blue Demons got off to one of their best starts of the season, playing with confidence and found the Marquette floor on 15 kills, while Marquette recorded just 13 kills in game one. DePaul took a 14-13 lead on Mandi Caputo and Cristina Correa's block and extended its lead on a back-to-back Marquette errors. However, the Blue Demons were unable to hang onto their lead, relinquishing it six points later on a Marquette service ace. Down 19-26, the Blue Demons went on a 6-4 run, but the Golden Eagle lead was too large to overcome and dropped game one 30-25.
DePaul rallied off six straight points to begin game two. The DePaul offense continued to roll, fueled by Hayes, who tallied three kills and two total blocks. Up 16-11, Marquette went on a 10-2 run to take a 21-18 lead. The Blue Demons continued to battle, pulling as close as 22-25, but again the Marquette lead and momentum was to again too big to overcome. The Golden Eagles won game two 30-25.
Returning from the break, the Golden Eagles out hit the DePaul .372 to .231 and found the wood on 20 different occasions. The Blue Demons were not without chances as they tied game four times, but Marquette won the game three 30-24 and the match.
Three Marquette players, Jamie Mueller, Kimberly Todd and Theresa Coughlin finished with 11 kills to lead all players for the match.
Hayes led the Blue Demons for the second consecutive match, recoding a .667 attack percentage while Morgan Ingersoll and Correa each registered eight kills. The Blue Demons recorded 40 total kills and Caputo dished out 33 assists.
The Blue Demons will return to action on Sunday, traveling to Syracuse, New York to take the Orange Sunday in BIG EAST volleyball action. The match is schedule to begin at 2:00 p.m. (CST).
