DePaul Opens BIG EAST Play at No. 19 Marquette

Wednesday, September 21

Milwaukee, Wis.

7:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

#19 Marquette

DePaul Opens BIG EAST Play at No. 19 Marquette

9/20/2022 9:35:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Watch on FloSports Live Stats

Blue Demons look for first win over Golden Eagles since 2008

CHICAGO – DePaul volleyball will open the 2022 BIG EAST slate on the road with a short trip to Milwaukee to face 19th-ranked Marquette at the Al McGuire Center on Wednesday night. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. with coverage on BEDN carried on FloSports.

The Blue Demons enter the midweek matchup 4-8 on the 2022 season having won four of their last six matches including sweeping the competition at the DePaul Invitational and taking down Loyola at the Chicago Cup last weekend.

Marquette (9-1) is off to their best start since the 2009 season with ranked wins over then-No. 11 Kentucky and then-No. 25 Illinois. The Golden Eagles lone setback of the 2022 campaign was a 3-1 loss to then-ranked No. 6 Wisconsin back on Sept. 2.

Demon Doings: After being selected to finish a program-best third in the BIG EAST Coaches' poll the Blue Demons will look to chart a new course after a tough non-conference schedule. Coming off the program's first appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament a season ago, Head coach Marie Zidek and her squad not only look to return to the postseason but find sustained success in November and December.

A solid core of returners led by Jill Pressly, Rachel Krasowski, Bailey Nelson and Hanna Karl provide the spark for the Blue Demons. Pressly, an All-BIG EAST Team selection last season and a preseason pick in 2022, leads DePaul's attack with 3.67 kills per set to rank third in the conference to go along with six double-doubles through 12 matches. Libero Rachel Krasowski leads the league in total digs with 241 while her 5.02 digs per set an ranks 24th in the nation. At the net, Aly Kindelberger has picked up the defensive mantle, totaling a BIG EAST-best 1.21 blocks per set. Zidek is in her fifth season at the helm of the Blue Demons program and is 58-65 and is 24-38 in BIG EAST matches.

Scouting Marquette: The Golden Eagles potent offense leads the league in attack percentage (.271) and is second in kills per set (13.74). Notre Dame transfer Aubrey Hamilton leads the attack for MU with 3.08 kills per set while Iowa Western transfer setter Yadhira Anchante quarterbacks the offense and is third in the conference with 10.03 assists per set. Libero Carly Skrabak leads the squad with 4.55 digs per set while junior middle blocker has averaged 1.08 blocks per set. Ryan Theis is in his ninth season leading the Golden Eagles.

Series Stuff: The Golden Eagles hold a 39-29 edge in the all-time series between the two programs. Marquette has won 22 consecutive matches when the two squads have faced off with the last Blue Demons victory coming on Nov. 1, 2008 in Chicago.

Last time at the Al: A season ago the Blue Demons were on the brink of taking down league-leading Marquette at the Al McGuire Center on Wednesday, Oct. 21. DePaul took a set from the Golden Eagles for the first time since the 2016 season and eventually fell 3-2 despite having a 14-11 lead in set five. Jill Pressly totaled 15 kills while picking up 13 digs while Rachel Krasowski collected 17 digs.

From Head Coach Marie Zidek: "Couldn't be more excited to start BIG EAST play with Marquette. They and Creighton are currently ranked in the Top 25 both with deep December NCAA tourney runs. Out of 334 Division 1 volleyball teams over 31 divisions, only two non-Power 5 leagues have both Top 25 and yearly post- season representation by multiple teams, the BIG EAST continuing to be one of them. We are building to join them in that chase. To have a chance to play a hot and offensive Marquette team right off the bat is going to help us continue to reach for a higher standard, one we know we are capable of. I am excited for our group, this opportunity and our continued journey together establishing what makes Blue Demon Volleyball in the BIG EAST special."

Up Next: Following the conference opener, DePaul will return home to host Butler on Friday, Sept. 23 at McGrath-Phillips Arena. First serve is set for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on FloSports. Students can collect their Volleyball Gameday t-shirt upon entry.