DePaul Drops Home Opener to Xavier, 3-2

Friday, February 19

Chicago, Ill.

3:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

0-3,0-3Big East

Xavier

3-3,1-0Big East

Xavier

DePaul

2/19/2021 7:33:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Three Blue Demons post double-digit kills in the setback

CHICAGO - The DePaul volleyball team took Xavier to five sets on Friday afternoon before falling to the Musketeers, 3-2, at McGrath-Phillips Arena.

Sophomore Bailey Nelson paced the Blue Demons offense with 18 kills on .300 hitting while Emma Price hit .407 and registered 13 kills. Donna Brown posted 11 kills and tallied three solo blocks. Freshman Rachel Krasowski led the defense with a game-high 24 digs.

Phoenix Lee totaled a career-high 35 assists while Molly Murrihy dished out 23 helpers.

"Great battle by our squad tonight. We out killed Xavier, which was a huge bright spot. Our offense looked very good and our setters continue to get comfortable in our system" remarked Head Coach Marie Zidek.

"This group battle hard, and we are very proud of how much fight they have. Couple points and situations here and there that we can turn our way, and there will be a different outcome. This group just needs to continue to learn to battle together, and we will get there."

DePaul (0-3, 0-3 BIG EAST) took the first set, 25-19, behind solid production from Nelson with six kills on eight swings. Both sides traded points early in the set before a Jill Pressly kill followed by two from Nelson gave the Blue Demons a 13-9 advantage and forced a Xavier timeout. The Musketeers made a push out of the break and came within striking distance at 15-14 after a Price ball handling error. DePaul used a mini 3-0 run capped by a Pressly service ace to widen the lead to 21-16 and put the set out of reach for The Musketeers.

Xavier (3-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the second set with Kelly Franxman behind the service line. A Pressly killed followed by a Brown block brought the Blue Demons within three before the Musketeer broke open the set on a 4-0 run. Price and Nelson tallied consecutive strikes late in the set to bring DePaul within eight before a Carrigan O'Reilly dump evened the match at 1-1.

Both sides went toe-to-toe in the third set with the largest lead remaining at one until kills by Brown and Hanna Karl gave DePaul an 11-9 advantage. An Ellie Chaffee kill tied the set at 16 apiece before the Blue Demons scored two consecutive points to regain the lead for the duration of the set. DePaul's margin ballooned to four before two Xavier points brought the score to 24-23. A Price kill swiped the set to give the Blue Demons the 2-1 lead.

Three consecutive DePaul errors allowed Xavier to take the early lead in set four at 7-3. The Musketeers advantage expanded to 21-14 before two consecutive Nelson kills paired with a Xavier attack error brought DePaul within five at 21-16. An Allison Dennemann kill along with successful attacks by Avarie Evans-Allen and Price gave DePaul the momentum at 24-21. An O'Reilly kill on the next point allowed Xavier to take the set and even the match at 2-2.

The fifth set saw both sides knotted at 10 points apiece. Norah Painter's kill followed by two consecutive DePaul errors gave the Musketeers a 13-10 advantage. Out of the Blue Demon timeout, Nelson hammered home a kill from Lee to bring DePaul within two before a pair of Delaney Hogan kills in the final three points gave Xavier the set and the win.

DePaul and Xavier will meet once again on Saturday afternoon with first serve set for 1 p.m. Live coverage can be accessed at DePaulBlueDemons.com/watch.