DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Providence
Volleyball Victorious in Straight Sets over Providence
10/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
CHICAGO - The DePaul volleyball team snapped its losing streak with a straight set victory versus Providence Saturday night, 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-23). DePaul improves to 13-8, 2-7 in the BIG EAST and moves ahead of Providence in the conference standings as the Friars drop to 10-13, 1-8 in the BIG EAST.
The Blue Demons' hitting percentage reached a mark of .444 by the end of the night, two points away from tying a season-best. Saige Gallop recorded a match-high 14 kills and four digs. Brittany Maxwell joined Gallop in the double-digit kills category with 11 kills on 19 attacks.
Maxwell had a match-high five total blocks. Randi Leath tallied four total blocks, including two solo blocks.
Colleen Smith set up 29 assists for a match-high and totaled seven digs.
Coming off a tough loss the night before, DePaul entered Saturday's contest in front of a rowdy McGrath-Phillips Arena crowd to close out Saturday of Alumni Weekend at DePaul. The two teams traded blows and were deadlocked at eight-all before the Blue Demons broke away with back-to-back points on kills by Gallop and Jasmine King. DePaul never surrendered the lead after that sequence. A 5-0 run helped DePaul to a 20-13 lead and closed the set on a Gallop kill, 25-16.
No time was wasted in the second set when the Blue Demons opened the frame with a 6-1 lead. DePaul rallied for four straight points to make the score 10-2, forcing a Providence timeout in the process. The Blue Demons used a 9-1 run to put away the second frame with a dominant 25-9 result.
After the break between sets, Providence fell to a deficit of 11-6 and responded by tying the match at 11-all. The Friars built a lead of three, 15-12, off an attacking error by DePaul. The Blue Demons tied the match, 15-15, and battled with Providence until the very end of the set. With DePaul down by two at 23-21, the Blue Demons claimed the next four points to end the set and the match.
DePaul stays at home in McGrath-Phillips Arena next weekend as it takes on Villanova and Seton Hall. The Villanova match is set for a 7 p.m. CT start and will be featured on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
