DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Providence
Volleyball Victorious in BIG EAST Opener at Providence
9/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Box Score: DePaul 3, Providence 2 
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - In the first BIG EAST match of the season, DePaul and Providence split the first four sets before DePaul produced a dominant performance in the fifth set to earn the win Friday night, 3-2 (25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 19-25, 15-3). The Blue Demons move one match above .500 again on the year (7-6, 1-0 BIG EAST), while the Friars fall to 12-5, 0-1 BIG EAST.
Colleen Smith came up big for the Blue Demons with her fifth double-double of the season with 41 assists and 11 digs. The senior setter added five kills and two blocks to her evening.
Brittany Maxwell had a match-high 17 kills. Caitlyn Coffey followed behind with 11 kills and a team-high seven blocks (one solo, six assisted).
Providence jumped out to a 6-1 lead to start the match and forced a DePaul timeout. A pair of 3-0 rallies helped the Blue Demons tie the set at 8-8. DePaul took the advantage for the first time after Myah Reed got the kill to make the score 10-9. With Maxwell serving, the Blue Demons went on a 5-0 run to set them up for the early advantage. DePaul closed the set off a Reed kill from Smith.
The second set saw DePaul with the early advantage when Jameson MacPhie tallied a kill to set the score at 9-4. DePaul held a lead of at least two until Providence cut the deficit to one at 16-15 when Allison Impellizeri found space for a kill. The Blue Demons built their lead back to four and needed just two more points to clinch the set, but Providence answered with six points in a row to tie the match at one-all.
In the third frame, the two sides battled to eight ties in the first half before Providence began to build a lead. The Friars were up by five, 21-16, before DePaul began a furious comeback. DePaul went on to score the next seven points to take the lead at 23-21. Providence finally answered to stop the DePaul rally and cut the DePaul lead to one. A Smith kill and Providence service error helped the Blue Demons win the third set, 25-23.
The Friars grabbed the early lead in set number four and never gave it up to the Blue Demons. DePaul cut the deficit to one on multiple occasions, but Providence had the answer. The Friars closed the set taking four of the final five points and forced a fifth and final set.
With the match tied at two-all, the Blue Demons answered the pressure with a dominant fifth frame. DePaul scored the first three points in the set and forced a Providence timeout. The Friars scored a point coming out of the timeout, but DePaul responded with a 10-1 rally. DePaul secured the final two points of the set to cruise to a 15-3 set victory.
The Blue Demons continue their road trip as they head to Creighton on Sunday. The BIG EAST match is set to begin at 1 p.m. CT. Creighton and DePaul are one of four teams in the BIG EAST that started conference play 1-0.
