DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Maryland Eastern Shore
Blue Demons Sweep UMES in Weekend Opener
9/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Box Score: DePaul 3, UMES 0 
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The DePaul volleyball team opened the weekend at the Spartan Classic on a high note by defeating Maryland Eastern Shore in straight sets, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-18). The Blue Demons improve to 6-4 on the season and guarantee at least a .500 record heading into BIG EAST play, while UMES falls to 7-7.
Brittany Maxwell was the driving force behind DePaul's attack that finished with 43 kills and a .310 hitting percentage. Maxwell had a match-high 13 kills and was followed behind by Jameson MacPhie with 11 kills.
Colleen Smith registered 32 assists in just the three sets and added a team-high eight digs. Jasmine King led the Blue Demons at the net with five total blocks.
DePaul jumped out to the early 11-6 lead and forced a Hawks' timeout. The timeout helped UMES bring the score within two at 12-10, but DePaul answered with a MacPhie kill and a pair of Maxwell service aces. The Blue Demons built its lead to as large as seven at 20-13 with an attacking error from the Hawks. UMES went on a late rally to cut the deficit to one, 22-21, but DePaul held off the comeback and to win the first set, 25-22.
The Blue Demons wasted no time gaining the advantage in the second set and took a four-point lead at 8-4 on another Maxwell service ace. DePaul held a comfortable lead throughout the rest of the second set, building it to six on multiple occasions. A Hawk attacking error and a Maxwell kill after an assist from Haley Bueser secured the two-set advantage for the Blue Demons.
In the third set, neither team could produce an early lead of more than two. The two sides were deadlocked at nine-all when DePaul went on a 6-1 rally to set the first comfortable cushion of the set. A three-point run by UMES was not enough for the Hawks as DePaul registered five of the final six points to win the set and the match.
The Blue Demons return to the court Saturday for matches against Notre Dame (noon CT) and host Michigan State (5 p.m. CT).
