DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Marquette
Blue Demon Volleyball Falls 3-0 at Marquette
10/19/2013 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Oct. 19, 2013
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. - Senior Natalie Rizzo had 11 kills on an error-free night, but it wasn't enough for DePaul volleyball as hosting Marquette took a 3-0 decision on Saturday at the Al McGuire Center.
Rizzo's hyper-efficient night in the middle (11-0-17) resulted in a season-high .647 hitting percentage, but Marquette committed just nine errors as a team to hit .375 and best DePaul for the second time this season.
With the loss, DePaul drops to 15-4 overall and 1-4 in the BIG EAST. Marquette improves to 12-5 and 4-1 in league play after getting double-digit kill performances from Autumn Bailey (14) and Nele Barber (12).
Defensively, Allyson Rooks paced the Blue Demons with 15 digs. Setter Colleen Smith added eight digs while racking up 29 assists.
As a team, the Blue Demons were limited to 35 kills, which tied a season-low.
Marquette marched to a 6-0 lead to start things off, but the Blue Demons responded with a 10-6 run to get within two. The next four points went to the Golden Eagles, however, and the set would get no closer than four the rest of the way as DePaul dropped the opener, 25-19.
The Blue Demons failed to gain a lead again in the second set, but got six kills from a hot Rizzo. Marquette again got off to a hot start, but the Blue Demons battled throughout and eventually got within three, 19-16, on an ace by Rizzo. Immediately after, Marquette responded with six of eight points to sew up a 25-18 win and a 2-0 lead going into intermission.
DePaul gained its first lead of the match in set three, 12-11, on a Marquette error and forced four lead changes overall. A kill by Bailey gave the Golden Eagles the lead back at 15-14, however, and they would hold on to win and seal the sweep, 25-19.
Next up for the Blue Demons will be a home match on Friday, Oct. 25 against Georgetown at 12:00 p.m. CT. It will be the first of an action-packed weekend, as the team hosts three BIG EAST opponents in three days.
On Saturday, DePaul faces Creighton at 2:30 p.m. CT before wrapping up the weekend with a 3:00 p.m. CT match against Villanova on Sunday.
Match Notes: Allyson Rooks' 15 digs bumped her career total to 958… the Blue Demons' 35 kills tied a season-low… Rizzo finished with 10 or more kills (11) for the sixth time this season and second match in a row… Marquette hit .375, which was the second highest hitting percentage against the Blue Demons this season… only three teams have hit .300 or better against DePaul in 2013…
