DePaul University
Seton Hall
Win Streak Continues as DePaul Defeats Seton Hall
10/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Box Score: DePaul 3, Seton Hall 2 
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. ââ'¬" The DePaul volleyball team opened the weekend with a road victory over Seton Hall Friday night, 3-2 (13-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-23, 15-10).
DePaul builds its win streak to four matches with the win and improves to 5-1 (11-7 overall) in the BIG EAST to remain second in the BIG EAST standings. Seton Hall drops to 3-3 for the conference and 9-10 overall.
Haley Bueser had a career night on the back line for the Blue Demons. The junior registered a career-high 24 digs, also tops in the match.
Colleen Smith finished with 59 assists on the evening in the win. Friday night marked the sixth time this season Smith has recorded 50-plus assists in a match. She added six digs and two blocks to her night.
Claire Anderson had a solid all-around performance for the Blue Demons. The freshman ended the night with eight digs, six kills, four service aces and two total blocks.
The five BIG EAST wins this season are tied for the most wins in conference play (2012) since DePaul joined the BIG EAST in 2005. DePaul's four-match conference win streak is the first since 2001 when the Blue Demons recorded the same streak in Conference USA play.
The first set was all Seton Hall thanks to a ten-point lead early in the set at 13-3. DePaul cut the lead to seven on multiple occasions, but Seton Hall had an answer to each Blue Demon rally. The Pirates built their lead to as large as 13 and clinched the set on a Caitlin Koska kill.
Seton Hall carried the momentum from the first set into the second frame by jumping out to an 8-1 lead. DePaul remained in the set by slowly cutting into the Seton Hall lead and eventually tying the Pirates at 20-all. The Blue Demons and Pirates were deadlocked at points 21 through 24 before the Blue Demons secured two clutch points thanks to kills from Myah Reed and Brittany Maxwell.
Unlike the first two sets, the third set did not feature a big enough lead for either side to run away with the set. Seton Hall held the lead for the majority of the frame while fending off a Blue Demon attack that forced 11 ties. With both sides tied 21-21, the Pirates secured back-to-back points to gain the advantage. The two sides traded the final four points with Seton Hall claiming set point.
With the match on the line, DePaul grabbed an early five-point advantage at 15-10, capped by a 3-0 rally. The Blue Demons held a comfortable lead until late in the set when Seton Hall used a 4-0 run to tie the set at 22-all. A pair of Seton Hall service errors and a Anderson kill helped the Blue Demons force a fifth set for the second match in a row.
In the fifth set, Seton Hall won the first point, but DePaul answered by going on a 4-0 rally. The Blue Demons forced a Seton Hall timeout after taking the score to 9-5. The timeout did not slow down the Blue Demons as they scored two of the next three points. DePaul and Seton Hall went on to trade the next four points, forcing the Pirates to call their second timeout at 13-9. Seton Hall earned the next point, but DePaul had the response with a Maxwell kill to set up match point and Anderson sealing the match.
The Blue Demons remain on the road for Saturday's match against St. John's. DePaul and St. John's meet at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN3. Fans can visit the DePaul schedule page for all live coverage links.
