DePaul University
11-9,4-5Big East
Xavier
13-7,6-3Big East
Blue Demons Defeat Xavier in Four-Set Match
10/20/2023 8:39:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Team totals nine blocks in only match of season against Xavier
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DePaul volleyball took down Xavier, 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 27-25, 25-22), Friday night.
DePaul (11-9, 4-5 BIG EAST) was led offensively by Jill Pressly with 23 kills on a .348 hitting percentage and added 21 digs. Audrey Klemp added 14 terminations of her own alongside four blocks.
Aly Kindelberger led the team in blocks, notching six on the evening and chipping in eight kills. Meghan Scholz and Bailey Nelson poured in six kills each.Â
Junior setter Maggie Jones tallied 36 assists and senior libero Rachel Krasowski totaled 17 digs on the evening.Â
"What a competitive show tonight from this group against a very good Xavier team with one of the top setters in the country in O'Reilly," said head coach Marie Zidek. "Really took a team effort to adjust and find defensive opportunities to get our arms back on the ball. Our block did a phenomenal job neutralizing Hogan tonight, and our attackers were bringing the heat in transition and being smart when they needed to. It was our serving game that kept them limited enough in first ball so we could get ahead in the rally. Over-all, this team is becoming better because of adversity and growing into a team with posture, flexibility, responsibility, and belief. Super proud of the effort tonight from the group."
Xavier (13-7, 6-3 BIG EAST) was led by Brooklyn Cink with 14 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET ONE: The Musketeers started off with an early 5-3 lead, but the Blue Demons responded with a 6-1 surge to get ahead by four. Another quick three points for DePaul behind kills from Klemp put the squad up, 15-9. Both sides continued to trade points, but two late kills from Klemp and a Xavier service error helped secure the set win for DePaul.
SET TWO: The Blue Demons took the 8-4 lead, thanks to kills from Klemp and Kindelberger. There was much back-and-forth action as both sides stayed within two points of one another. Kills from Nelson and Pressly put DePaul up by two, but the Musketeers took the set on a late 7-2 surge. The set saw 12 ties and four lead changes.
SET THREE: A 3-0 run, highlighted by a Scholz solo block, put the Blue Demons within one, 6-7. Both sides continued to trade blows, but the Musketeers took a four point lead to earn their largest advantage of the set. DePaul closed out the set on a 10-3 run that began with a Jones kill and ended with two straight points to close out the set and take a 2-1 advantage.
SET FOUR: Back-and-forth action consumed the beginning of the match, as both sides traded runs. The Blue Demons took a three point lead off of kills from Pressly and a Xavier error. The Musketeers responded, tying the match with a surge of their own. A block from Pressly and Kindelberger put DePaul up by two, 22-20. Xavier tried to extend the match but two straight kills from Pressly secured the victory for DePaul.
UP NEXT
DePaul closes out their roadtrip with a visit to Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday, Oct. 20. The Blue Demons and Bulldogs are set to square off at 4 p.m. CT.Â
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