Blue Demons Stumble at Valparaiso

Valparaiso 3, DePaul 1

VALPARAISO, Ind. – The DePaul volleyball team fell to Valparaiso 3-1 (30-20, 30-17, 23-30, 30-17) Tuesday at the Valparaiso Athletic Recreation Center.  The Crusaders improve to 9-5 on the season while the Blue Demons fall to 4-10.

Long rallies and defense highlighted the match that saw both teams finish with double digit block totals.  Valparaiso tallied 13 blocks and had three players finish with double-digit dig totals. The Blue Demons finished with 52 digs and a season high 10.0 blocks.  Five of DePaul's six starters finished with at least one block assist while senior Denae Gibson led the court with six total blocks.

The Crusaders served their way through the first game notching five service aces and tallied 22 kills.  The Blue Demons found themselves down 10-3; but sophomore Caitlin Callaghan was able to serve four straight points to get DePaul back into the game.  Gibson put an exclamation point on Callaghan's serving with a solo block and pulled DePaul within three at 10-7.  The Blue Demons again made a run and got within two at 19-17 on Hayes' and Gibson's block; but they were unable to make up any more ground as Valparaiso closed out the game on a 11-3 run.

Valparaiso took its offensive momentum into the second game, hitting .355 as a team and cruised to a .30-17 victory. 

The Blue Demons came back from the break energized and never trailed in the third set.  DePaul hit a sizzling .297 and had three players, junior Aly Zavitz, Hayes and Gibson all finish with four kills.  

Following the game three loss Valparaiso hit a match high .467 and terminated 17 balls in the fourth frame.  Angie Porche led the Crusaders with six kills and Nicole Schiltz followed with five.

For the match Porche led all players with 19 kills and a .486 attack percentage.

DePaul Freshman setter Emily McGinnis dished out 39 assists, while Ingersoll led the offense with 12 kills.  Gibson tallied a team-high .269 (11-4-26) attack percentage.

The Blue Demons open BIG EAST play this weekend on the road.  Saturday, September 23rd they face Villanova in Philadelphia before traveling to New Jersey to take on Rutgers.  Both matches are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (CST). 

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