DePaul University
5-3,0-0Big East
Evansville
5-3,0-0MVC
DePaul Takes Down Evansville in Three Sets, Sweeping DePaul Invitational
9/9/2023 8:52:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Klemp and Pressly combine to lead the Blue Demons offense against the Purple Aces
CHICAGO - DePaul volleyball earned its fifth-straight win, Saturday evening, with a 3-0 victory over the Evansville Purple Aces (25-23, 34-32, 25-20). The win completed a sweep for the team over the weekend at the DePaul Invitational.Â
DePaul (5-3) was led by Audrey Klemp who tallied 15 kills and a .500 hitting percentage, as Jill Pressly poured in 14 kills and 10 digs. Graduate student Bailey Nelson added nine terminations of her own, alongside two blocks.
Rachel Krasowski and Ashley Cudiamat led the defensive charge, earning 15 and 12 digs, respectively. Junior Maggie Jones totaled 26 assists, 10 digs and six kills on the night.Â
Sophomore Katelynn Oxley started her fifth-straight match, adding five kills and one block. Freshman Meghan Scholz had another strong showing, earning five blocks and two kills.
"That match was worth its weight in gold," said head coach Marie Zidek. "Battling into extra points, running out of substitutions, having the opponent absolutely come after you with pace and arms, and to still find a way to win and battle back to a three set sweep is a turning point for us. It proves we can weather someone coming after us, respond, and then go on the offensive. What a gem of a match to be a part of. Everybody contributed when we needed it the most, and this team should sink this win into their bones. It will become our DNA."
Oxley, Pressly and Klemp were all named to the All-Tournament team, with Klemp earning MVP honors.Â
Evansville (5-3) was led by Giulia Cardona with 23 kills and 12 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET ONE: Nelson put up the assist for a Klemp kill to get the Blue Demons on the board first. The Aces gained a brief lead, but a 6-0 DePaul scoring run put the Demons ahead, 11-7. A long back-and-forth spell followed, ending with DePaul and Evansville tied at 21. After a short 3-0 scoring run, the Blue Demons found themselves at set point, 24-23. Klemp's sixth kill of the night and Jones' sixth assist won the first set for DePaul, 25-23.
SET TWO: The second set began similarly to the first, with a service ace from Jones giving the first point to the Demons. Neither side found themselves ahead by more than three points until Pressly delivered three consecutive kills to find DePaul ahead, 11-7, once again. Trading blows, DePaul's gritty performance never let Evansville gain the lead until the Aces broke the 23-23 fight to put them up to 24 for the set point. The Blue Demons never backed down, with two consecutive kills from Pressly evening the score once more at 24, then 25 for the set point. The teams tied up eight times over the next seven points. An Evansville error and another service ace by Jones gave DePaul the second set victory. The set saw 15 ties and 10 different set points.
SET THREE: Looking for revenge, Evansville started off the third set on a 3-0 scoring run before DePaul had the chance to fight back. Multiple impressive digs and an assist from Krasowski set up Pressly for a kill that would even the score at seven. A 5-0 scoring run with a service ace by Jones, kills from Nelson and Pressly, and two magnificent blocks from Scholz gave the Blue Demons a 12-8 lead. The Aces tirelessly tried to claw back from the deficit, but DePaul got the score up to match point at 24-18. Jones' 26th assist of the night set Oxley up for the final kill to clinch the match for the Demons.
UP NEXT
The Blue Demons will travel to Milwaukee for a midweek clash with the Panthers on Tuesday, Sept. 12. First serve from the Klotsche Center is set for 6 p.m.
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2023 TICKET INFORMATION Â Â
Season ticket packages for the 2023 DePaul Volleyball season are available now. Season ticket packages start at just $39 and for a limited time includes an exclusive DePaul flag. Courtside season ticket options are also available for $79. Single-game tickets and Group Ticket Offers are also available and start at $5. Fans can visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets for more information. Â Â
