Blue Demons Fall to Northwestern 3-1 in Chicago Cup Opener

Friday, September 16

Chicago, Ill.

4:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

3-7,0-0Big East

Northwestern

9-1,0-0Big Ten

Northwestern

DePaul

Blue Demons Fall to Northwestern 3-1 in Chicago Cup Opener

9/16/2022 6:16:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DePaul nabs first set, but drops ensuing three in four-set decision

CHICAGO – The DePaul volleyball team opened the Chicago Cup with a 3-1 setback against RV Northwestern on Friday afternoon at UIC's Flames Athletic Center. Despite setting the tone early and taking the first set 25-23, the Blue Demons dropped the ensuing three sets and the match.

Set scores of the match were: 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 16-25.

Junior outside hitter Jill Pressly led the DePaul attack with 13 kills to go along with 10 digs while Bailey Nelson added eight kills from the right side. Hanna Karl tallied seven kills on the match and picked up nine digs.

Libero Rachel Kraswoski picked up 15 digs and added three assists while setters Ashley Cudiamat and Maggie Jones totaled 19 and 18 assists, respectively.

Northwestern's Temi Thomas Ailara put down a match-high 19 kills to go along with 12 digs while setter Alexa Rousseau notched a triple double (11-11-44).

Set One: The Blue Demons opened the first set on 6-1 run to force an early Northwestern timeout. Back-to-back kills on the outside from Pressly maintained the DePaul lead at 15-10. The Wildcats cut the advantage to 16-13 before Taylor Underwood's second kill of the set on the right side earned the quick side-out for DePaul. Northwestern came within one at 17-16 to force a DePaul timeout. A pair of Blue Demon attack errors saw the Wildcats take a 20-18 lead. Pressly's third kill of the set knotted the score at 21. DePaul brushed off a two-point Northwestern run to claim the next four points and take the set 25-23.

Set Two: A four-point DePaul run capped by back-to-back kills from Nelson put the Blue Demons in front 10-8. Sara Griffith and Underwood combined for a block on the outside to widen the lead to 15-12. Three-consecutive points from Northwestern evened the set at 18 before a Karl kill on the outside but the Blue Demons back in front. DePaul took a 23-21 lead, but the Wildcats answered right back with a four-point run to take the set 25-23.

Set Three: Northwestern ran out to a 13-9 lead early in the third to force a DePaul timeout. The Blue Demons responded to cut the deficit to one before Karl dropped a kill cross court to knot the score at 16. Northwestern rattled off a four-point spurt to reclaim command of the set, 20-16. DePaul would not go away quietly, winning three of the next rallies to come within a pair and force a NU timeout. DePaul would stave off a set point, but Northwestern would claim the third set 25-20 the very next point.

Set Four: DePaul fell behind 9-4 in the fourth and led by as many as 10 before the Blue Demons put together four points in a row to come within six, 18-12. The Blue Demons would work past a trio of match points before the Wildcats took the set 25-16 and the match.

From Head Coach Marie Zidek: "Really well contested match and so proud of this team's grit versus a very talented Northwestern team. We worked them into some high-pressure moments and fought every step of the way. Every match for this young group helps us get closer to our BIG EAST goals. We must show how quickly we are learning and growing versus Loyola."

Up Next: DePaul will continue action at the Chicago Cup on Saturday, Sept. 17 with a pair of matches. The Blue Demons meet Loyola at 10 a.m. before facing UIC in the weekend finale at 7 p.m.