DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
2-0
Southeast Missouri State
0-1
Perfect Start to the Season for DePaul
8/30/2019 6:57:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - DePaul volleyball looks to change its culture and performance this upcoming season, and today that is just what it did. The Blue Demons are now 2-0 on the season after taking down Southeast Missouri State in a five-set match 3-2 (24-26, 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 15-13) to conclude day one of the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational.
FROM ZIDEK
"This was a program-changing and season-directing win tonight," said head coach Marie Zidek. "We had monster performances from Brittany and Donna as well as our role players. Claire continues to become one of our most important back row players. Her sserving set the course for us in the fifth set.
"I Also have to shout out Belle for a 32 dig performance. It would be remiss for me to leave out the rest of the team that we did not get to see in playing roles. We have a full team of 17 that pushes one another in practice. This is an unbelievable team win and it is one of those matches that can galvanize a team and program moving forward.
"It was pretty cool to have this experience and and moment in our second match of the season. I am so proud of this team."
SET ONE » Bailey Nelson put DePaul on the board first with a kill. SEMO evened it out before DePaul went on a 5-0 run to burst into a 6-1 lead. The Redhawks claimed six of the next seven points to even the score 7-7. The next five points were exchanged before SEMO jumped ahead on a 8-0 run to double its lead. Brittany Maxwell threw down back-to-back kills in a comeback attempt and the Blue Demons later tacked on a 4-0 run to sit just one point below SEMO at 20-21, forcing a Redhawk timeout. Out of the stoppage, DePaul knotted the score and then went on a 3-1 run. With 24's across the board, SEMO captured the next two points to take the first set 26-24.
SET TWO » Maxwell brought the first kill of the set and DePaul doubled its lead at 6-3 and again at 8-4 on a Maxwell service ace. The score knotted at 9-9 and remained close until DePaul 3-0 to take a 21-16 lead, instigating a SEMO timeout. Out of the break, kills from Avarie Evans-Allen and Elana Brueggemann grew the difference. DePaul would go on to win the second set 25-20 on a Maxwell kill.
SET THREE » The first point went to DePaul on a SEMO service error before the back-and-forth battle commenced. With eight knots in the score, DePaul broke the pattern and took a 12-9 lead on two Redhawk errors, leading to a SEMO timeout. SEMO shrunk the deficit out of the break, but kills from Emma Price and Brueggemann would gave DPU the driving force. Leading 20-14, DePaul took the next five of seven points to win the set 25-17 on a Brueggemann kill.
SET FOUR » Donna Brown struck the ball for the first kill of the set. The next 16 points were swapped between sides before SEMO went on a 6-0 run to take a 14-9 lead. A trio of SEMO errors along with a Brueggemann kill brought DePaul within two sitting at a 15-17 deficit. SEMO reached the 18-point mark and a Maxwell kill and Redhawk attack error brought the Blue Demons within one, leading SEMO to call a timeout. Both teams fought hard but SEMO would win 25-21, forcing a fifth set.
SET FIVE » Back-to-back Maxwell kills put the Blue Demons on board. Claire Anderson followed with an ace to grow the lead to 3-0. DePaul held the lead until SEMO caught up to make it 12-12, leading to a DePaul timeout. DePaul took three of the next four points to win the final set 15-13.
NEXT UP
The Blue Demons play one final contest of the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational against host Missouri State tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT.Â
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