DePaul University
NIU
MacPhie Produces Double-Doubles in loss to NIU
8/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
DEKALB, Ill. - DePaul forced a fourth set against host Northern Illinois Friday night, but could not complete the comeback and suffered its first loss of the season, 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 27-29, 25-20). DePaul moves to 1-1 on the season after the second match of the NIU Invitational, while NIU opens its season 1-0.
The Blue Demons were led by another double-double performance. Jameson MacPhie registered a match-high 14 kills and 10 digs. Colleen Smith finished with 9 digs along with a team-high 26 assists. Brittany Maxwell was the only other Blue Demons with double-digit kills with 13.
DePaul in its second match of the day faced host NIU in the Huskies' season opener. The two sides opened the first set to an 8-8 tie before NIU broke away with a 6-1 run quickly after the tie. Back-to-back kills for the Blue Demons brought them within five midway through the set, 18-13. NIU answered with a late push and won the set, 25-16.
The Huskies opened the second set with the early lead, but DePaul kept it within six points. Late in the set, the Blue Demons rallied for four straight points to bring the score within two, 21-19. A kill by MacPhie made the score 23-22. After an NIU point, Caitlyn Coffey answered with a kill to cut the lead to one again. The DePaul comeback was cut short when NIU secured the set point.
The third set proved to be the most dramatic of the evening. After both sides were tied at 13-all, neither team held a lead larger than two points. NIU had the first shot at set point when the score was 24-23, but a key kill from Maxwell kept DePaul alive. With the score set at 28-27 in favor of the Blue Demons, Coffey found an opening on her serve to collect the ace and force a fourth set.
Both teams traded points for a majority of the fourth set. NIU tied the set at 16-all after Bri Horwath earned a kill. That point started a four-point rally for the Huskies. The Blue Demons cut the lead to within three on three occasions late in the set, the latest being 22-19 after a Jasmine King kill. A DePaul service error on set point secured the win for NIU.
DePaul returns to the court for its final match of the NIU Invitational against Iowa on Saturday. The match between the Blue Demons and the Hawkeyes is set for 3:30 p.m. CT.
NOTES
- Jameson MacPhie recorded career-highs with 14 kills and 10 digs to earn her first career double-double.
- This is the third year in a row DePaul begins the season 1-1. Last season, DePaul went 11-1 to open 2015.
- Dominika Kowalska had a career-high seven attacks in four sets played. She played in seven sets last season.
- Lexi Chanos led the team in digs for the second game in a row.
