DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
UIC
Comeback Falls Short for Blue Demons against UIC
9/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
CHICAGO - A late DePaul comeback attempt fell short Saturday night as the Blue Demons fell in five sets to UIC in the DePaul Invitational finale, 3-2 (25-23, 25-17, 15-25, 16-25, 15-12). After this weekend, DePaul remains one match over .500 at 5-4, while UIC stays undefeated at 9-0.
Four Blue Demons earned 10-plus kills in Saturday's match. Brittany Maxwell led the group with 15, followed by Jasmine King at 14 and Caitlyn Coffey with 13.
King also recorded a match-high seven blocks and finished with a hitting percentage of .346. Lexi Chanos tallied a match-high 16 digs and Colleen Smith notched 54 assists to close her weekend with 170 assists.
The first set featured plenty of back-and-forth action that generated 12 ties and six lead changes. DePaul and UIC were deadlocked at points 18 through 23. With the score set at 23-all, UIC earned a chance at set point off a Gaia Gbola kill and collected on the opportunity with a kill from Casey Harris.
In the second set, three UIC rallies proved pivotal for the Flames to build their lead. DePaul tied the match, 11-11, when Claire Anderson came up with a kill. UIC went on to rally for four-straight points and later in the set secured another rally of five straight. DePaul cut the lead to six, 23-17, but UIC scored back-to-back points to go up 2-0 in the match.
After the break between sets two and three, DePaul turned the tables on UIC and began dominating play. An extended run gave the Blue Demons a 12-8 lead and it was all DePaul after that point. DePaul built its advantage to 10 on a late 6-0 rally to set the score at 24-14 and clinched the third frame on a kill by Maxwell.
DePaul rode the momentum of the third set into set number four, jumping out to a 14-9 lead, thanks to two Chanos service aces. UIC cut the DePaul lead to four points at 18-14, but DePaul answered with a 4-0 run and winning seven of the final nine points to force a fifth and final frame.
The fifth set began with both sides fighting to a 4-4 score. The Flames tallied the next three points after the tie and gained the advantage. DePaul stayed with UIC as the set played out and brought the score within two at 14-12, but a DePaul attacking error on set point clinched the match for the Flames.
DePaul finished the weekend 2-1 with wins over a previously-undefeated USF and Albany. King was named the DePaul All-Invitational Team representative. The senior finished the weekend with 39 kills and 14 blocks.
The Blue Demons turn focus to the Spartan Classic next weekend (Sept. 16-17), the final invitational before BIG EAST play begins on Sept. 23. DePaul is scheduled to face Maryland Eastern Shore, Notre Dame and Michigan State as part of the two-day invitational.
DePaul Invitational MVP: Alyssa Ehrhardt, UIC
All-Invitational Team
Ali Witt, UIC
Jasmine King, DePaul
Chloe Evering, Albany
Joli Holland, USF
