DePaul University
Creighton
DePaul Drops Match to Creighton
10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
CHICAGO - The DePaul volleyball team fell short to BIG EAST-leading Creighton Friday night at McGrath-Phillips Arena, 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-19). The Blue Demons fall to 11-11 on the season and 5-5 in BIG EAST play, while Creighton remains unbeaten in BIG EAST matches at 9-0 and 15-6 overall.
Colleen Smith finished the match with 29 assists, six digs, and two blocks for a strong all-around performance.
Myah Reed and Jasmine King led the Blue Demons attack with 10 kills apiece.
Rachel Breault led DePaul at the net with four blocks. Haley Bueser registered a match-high 13 kills to lead the defense.
A pair of rallies by Creighton kicked off the match and gave the Bluejays a 10-5 lead. Creighton built its lead to eight at 20-12, forcing a DePaul timeout. Coming out of the timeout, DePaul produced a 3-0 run began its climb back into the set. With Smith serving, the Blue Demons grabbed another 3-0 rally and cut the lead to two, 23-21. A Creighton attack error brought the Blue Demons within one at 24-23, but a Bluejays kill on set point gave Creighton the 1-0 lead.
In set two, neither side grabbed a lead of more than four. A total of seven ties between DePaul and Creighton gave the crowd at McGrath-Phillips Arena the closest set on the night. A kill from King tied the match at 22-all. Creighton claimed the next two points to force set point. DePaul earned one more point to make it 24-23 before the Bluejays clinched the set off a kill.
The third set featured Creighton jumping out to a nine-point lead at 18-9 and forced DePaul to call both of its timeouts. DePaul cut the advantage to six thanks to a pair of service aces from Katie Dolan to set the score at 22-16. Creighton closed the set by winning two of the final three points and claimed the match 3-0.
DePaul returns to action on Saturday to take on Providence at 7 p.m. CT. The match between the Blue Demons and Friars can be streamed live on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
