DePaul University Athletics

Blue Demons Battle with No. 22 Western Kentucky in 3-1 Setback
9/2/2022 12:23:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
DePaul grabs a set from Hilltoppers but can't go the distance
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – In a blow for blow match with 22nd-ranked Western Kentucky, DePaul could not get over the top in a 3-1 decision on Friday morning at the Falcon Invitational presented by Hampton Inn. Despite dropping a narrow first set and taking the second from the Conference USA preseason favorites, the Blue Demons could not go the distance in the weekend opener.Â
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Set scores of the match were 23-25, 27-25, 17-25, 16-25.
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Outside hitter Jill Pressly recorded her third double-double of the 2022 season with 17 kills and 14 digs along with a pair of aces. Bailey Nelson totaled 13 kills at a .250 clip in addition to two blocks.
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Freshman Grace Brooker totaled a career-high eight kills while classmate Katelynn Oxley put up five kills at a .364 mark to go along with a team-high five blocks.
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Ashley Cudiamat and Maggie Jones split the setting responsibilities once again with Cudiamat tallying 20 assists and Jones 19 helpers. Rachel Krasowski collected 17 digs in the back row.
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Paige Briggs and Lauren Matthews led the Hilltoppers with 21 and 16 kills, respectively. Â
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SET ONE: DePaul controlled the tempo early and ran out to a 9-4 lead after a Pressly kill. The Hilltoppers crept back in to cut the deficit to 11-9 before a Pressly and Oxley block on the outside pushed the Blue Demons' advantage back to four. A WKU hitting error and Pressly termination stretched DePaul's lead to 19-15 in the late stages of the first. Western Kentucky pulled within one to force a Blue Demon timeout before an immediate side out put DePaul back in front by two. A late surge from the Hilltoppers would allow them to take the first set, 25-23.
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SET TWO: A five-point run in the early stages of the second set allowed Western Kentucky to jump out to a 8-5 lead. The Blue Demons responded with a 5-0 run to take an 11-10 lead on a trio of kills from Pressly and Krasowski service ace. A three-point spurt put the Hilltoppers in front 16-14, but the Blue Demons would not go away, tying the score at 21 on a Maggie Jones service ace. A Jones and Aly Kindelberger block sealed the set for DePaul 27-25 and evened the match at 1-1.
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SET THREE: DePaul found themselves in a 7-3 deficit in the third, before Nelson's 12th kill of the match pulled the Blue Demons within one at 10-9. A DePaul service error and a pair of service aces from the Hilltoppers stretched DePaul's deficit to five at 15-10. Taylor Underwood and Oxley combined for DePaul's sixth block of the match to inch DePaul back into the set 23-17. WKU would close out the set on back-to-back Matthews kills and take a 2-1 lead on the match.
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SET FOUR: Western Kentucky jumped out to an 8-4 advantage in the fourth and never looked back as the Hilltoppers claimed a 25-16 set victory and picked up a 3-1 win.
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Up Next: The Blue Demons will continue action at the Falcon Invitational presented by Hampton Inn with a 4 p.m. matchup against Northern Kentucky on Friday afternoon.
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Set scores of the match were 23-25, 27-25, 17-25, 16-25.
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Outside hitter Jill Pressly recorded her third double-double of the 2022 season with 17 kills and 14 digs along with a pair of aces. Bailey Nelson totaled 13 kills at a .250 clip in addition to two blocks.
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Freshman Grace Brooker totaled a career-high eight kills while classmate Katelynn Oxley put up five kills at a .364 mark to go along with a team-high five blocks.
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Ashley Cudiamat and Maggie Jones split the setting responsibilities once again with Cudiamat tallying 20 assists and Jones 19 helpers. Rachel Krasowski collected 17 digs in the back row.
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Paige Briggs and Lauren Matthews led the Hilltoppers with 21 and 16 kills, respectively. Â
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SET ONE: DePaul controlled the tempo early and ran out to a 9-4 lead after a Pressly kill. The Hilltoppers crept back in to cut the deficit to 11-9 before a Pressly and Oxley block on the outside pushed the Blue Demons' advantage back to four. A WKU hitting error and Pressly termination stretched DePaul's lead to 19-15 in the late stages of the first. Western Kentucky pulled within one to force a Blue Demon timeout before an immediate side out put DePaul back in front by two. A late surge from the Hilltoppers would allow them to take the first set, 25-23.
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SET TWO: A five-point run in the early stages of the second set allowed Western Kentucky to jump out to a 8-5 lead. The Blue Demons responded with a 5-0 run to take an 11-10 lead on a trio of kills from Pressly and Krasowski service ace. A three-point spurt put the Hilltoppers in front 16-14, but the Blue Demons would not go away, tying the score at 21 on a Maggie Jones service ace. A Jones and Aly Kindelberger block sealed the set for DePaul 27-25 and evened the match at 1-1.
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SET THREE: DePaul found themselves in a 7-3 deficit in the third, before Nelson's 12th kill of the match pulled the Blue Demons within one at 10-9. A DePaul service error and a pair of service aces from the Hilltoppers stretched DePaul's deficit to five at 15-10. Taylor Underwood and Oxley combined for DePaul's sixth block of the match to inch DePaul back into the set 23-17. WKU would close out the set on back-to-back Matthews kills and take a 2-1 lead on the match.
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SET FOUR: Western Kentucky jumped out to an 8-4 advantage in the fourth and never looked back as the Hilltoppers claimed a 25-16 set victory and picked up a 3-1 win.
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Up Next: The Blue Demons will continue action at the Falcon Invitational presented by Hampton Inn with a 4 p.m. matchup against Northern Kentucky on Friday afternoon.
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Team Stats
DePaul
WestKy
Kills
51
56
Errors
24
15
Attempts
152
142
Hitting %
.178
.289
Points
63
72
Assists
47
53
Aces
5
9
Blocks
7
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Players Mentioned
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