Saturday, August 30
McGrath-Phillips Arena
12:00 PM
DePaul University
3
vs
1
Bradley
Smith Guides Volleyball to Win Over Bradley
8/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Aug. 30, 2014
Smith did just about everything for the Blue Demons as the junior dished out 35 assists while adding nine digs, eight kills, three block assists and two service aces - one of which was the match winner. The picture of efficiency, Smith hit .700 (8-1-10) for the match and leads the Blue Demons with a .706 attack percentage on the season.
The Blue Demons combined to hit for .200 (48-22-130) for the match while Saige Gallop paced DePaul's offensive attack with 11 kills. Myah Reed and Rachel Breault each added nine kills for the Blue Demons. DePaul libero Lexi Chanos led the defensive efforts with 10 digs and Gallop added eight.
DePaul took the first set 25-22 behind the leadership of its junior captain Smith who guided the floor with seven assists and six digs. The setter distributed the ball to six different players while Gallop and Randi Leath led the group with three kills apiece.
Looking to control the tempo from the start, the Blue Demons raced out to an early 5-1 lead and led by as many as nine points. However, the pesky Braves battled and pulled within one, 22-21 before a Bradley attack error, a service ace from Randi Leath and a kill from Caitlyn Coffey that would end the first frame in favor of the Blue Demons.
Reeling from the momentum of the first set win, the Blue Demons once again dominated in the early portion of the second frame and led 22-12. However, Bradley stole the game's energy with a 9-2 run and closed the gap to just three points (24-21) before Coffey again finished off the set with a kill.
In a must-win set for the Braves, Bradley led by as many as five points and was paced by Tulacka's seven kills. The Blue Demons tied the frame at 23, but a pair of kills from Tulacka and Taylor Thiele would seal Bradley's 26-24 victory and send the match into a fourth set.
DePaul led for most of the final set, but the Braves would make it interesting in the closing points. Tied at 22, Smith took over and was credited with a pair of kills and a match-point ace that sealed the DePaul victory.
The Blue Demons close out the DePaul Invitational at 7 p.m. this evening when they host Hampton (2-0). Bradley and Stony Brook (1-1) begin the evening session of the DePaul Invitational with a 4:30 p.m. match.
Notes: Despite DePaul's win, Bradley still leads the overall series 14-8… the Blue Demons move to 18-2 in their last 20 nonconference matches… DePaul's four-set win was the first of its kind since facing SIUE last season… Lexi Chanos posted a career-high 10 digs… having tallied 8 kills, Colleen Smith set a new career-best… Saige Gallop set a new career mark with 45 total attacks… three different Bradley Players had 10-plus kills for the first time this season.
Photo Gallery 
| Video Highlights
Box Score: DePaul 3, Bradley 1 
CHICAGO - Colleen Smith led the DePaul volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 27-25) victory over Bradley on Saturday at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Playing its second of three games in the DePaul Invitational, the win is the first of the season for the Blue Demons (1-1), while the Braves fall to 0-2.
Smith did just about everything for the Blue Demons as the junior dished out 35 assists while adding nine digs, eight kills, three block assists and two service aces - one of which was the match winner. The picture of efficiency, Smith hit .700 (8-1-10) for the match and leads the Blue Demons with a .706 attack percentage on the season.
The Blue Demons combined to hit for .200 (48-22-130) for the match while Saige Gallop paced DePaul's offensive attack with 11 kills. Myah Reed and Rachel Breault each added nine kills for the Blue Demons. DePaul libero Lexi Chanos led the defensive efforts with 10 digs and Gallop added eight.
Bradley was paced by Jessie Tulacka's 19 kills, while Taylor Thiele added 12 and Kristi Chynowth was credited with 10 kills.
DePaul took the first set 25-22 behind the leadership of its junior captain Smith who guided the floor with seven assists and six digs. The setter distributed the ball to six different players while Gallop and Randi Leath led the group with three kills apiece.
Looking to control the tempo from the start, the Blue Demons raced out to an early 5-1 lead and led by as many as nine points. However, the pesky Braves battled and pulled within one, 22-21 before a Bradley attack error, a service ace from Randi Leath and a kill from Caitlyn Coffey that would end the first frame in favor of the Blue Demons.
Reeling from the momentum of the first set win, the Blue Demons once again dominated in the early portion of the second frame and led 22-12. However, Bradley stole the game's energy with a 9-2 run and closed the gap to just three points (24-21) before Coffey again finished off the set with a kill.
In a must-win set for the Braves, Bradley led by as many as five points and was paced by Tulacka's seven kills. The Blue Demons tied the frame at 23, but a pair of kills from Tulacka and Taylor Thiele would seal Bradley's 26-24 victory and send the match into a fourth set.
DePaul led for most of the final set, but the Braves would make it interesting in the closing points. Tied at 22, Smith took over and was credited with a pair of kills and a match-point ace that sealed the DePaul victory.
The Blue Demons close out the DePaul Invitational at 7 p.m. this evening when they host Hampton (2-0). Bradley and Stony Brook (1-1) begin the evening session of the DePaul Invitational with a 4:30 p.m. match.
Notes: Despite DePaul's win, Bradley still leads the overall series 14-8… the Blue Demons move to 18-2 in their last 20 nonconference matches… DePaul's four-set win was the first of its kind since facing SIUE last season… Lexi Chanos posted a career-high 10 digs… having tallied 8 kills, Colleen Smith set a new career-best… Saige Gallop set a new career mark with 45 total attacks… three different Bradley Players had 10-plus kills for the first time this season.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
DS/L
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
MB
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
OH
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
MB
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
S
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALLEpisode 24: Marie Zidek, Women's Volleyball
Tuesday, September 02
Bowling Green vs. DePaul - NIVC Great 8
Saturday, December 07
Omaha vs. DePaul - NIVC Second Round
Friday, December 06
Volleyball vs. Omaha - NIVC Super 16
Friday, December 06