DePaul University Athletics
UTSA Tops DePaul
9/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
CHICAGO The DePaul volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-22, 25-22) match to UTSA Friday at McGrath Arena. The match was the second of the DePaul Invitational with Denver topping Ball State, 3-2 earlier in the evening.
The loss drops the Blue Demons to 1-5, while UTSA has won its last two and improves to 3-6.
Both teams were equally matched as a pair of players from both sides finished with double-digit kill totals. Kendra Rowland led the Roadrunners and all players with 19 kills, while Valorie Rogers paced the floor with a .370 attack percentage and 13 kills. UTSA finished the match with 61 kills.
With Blue Demon setter Christy Landschoot finding two of her favorite targets in outside hitter Sarah Cullen and middle blocker Jacie Fiedler the duo terminated the ball well. Cullen led squad with a season-high 16 kills while Fiedler chipped in 11. Landschoot dished out 39 assists in the four set loss.
The first set was highlighted with big hits and long rallies as the two teams went point-for-point in the early portion of the set. Tied at 13, UTSA went on a 7-3 run and took a 20-16 lead on Rowland's kill. Rowland led floor with six kills as UTSA won the first set 25-23.
Driven to win the second set ,the Blue Demons hit an impressive .391. Fueled by Cullen’s five explosive kills and a scorching .714 attack percentage, DePaul never trailed in the set. With the Blue Demons terminating the ball well, Cullen went to work and tallied three consecutive kills to give DePaul a 13-8 advantage.
The Blue Demons took their largest lead of the second set at 19-11 on Kate Letcher's second ace of the set. Letcher was a wall at the net as she totaled three blocks, including a set-winning solo block. DePaul won the second set 25-16.
Following the break, the Roadrunner bounced back and took the final two sets 25-22.
Katherine Knutson paced DePaul and the floor with a season-high 19 digs. Kendall Maduzia also chipped in a career-high 10 digs off the bench.
The DePaul Invitational continues on Saturday when the Blue Demons face Ball State and Denver at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30, respectively.
Notes
Jacie Fiedler has registered double-digit kill totals in all six Blue Demon matches... Fiedler has finished 21 career matches in double-digit kill totals... only two players (Kendall Maduzia and Ashley Graham) outside of the starting seven have entered a match off the bench for DePaul... DePaul leads the all-time series with UTSA 2-1.
