Blue Demons Can't Hold On Against Xavier Saturday

Saturday, November 15

Cincinnati, Ohio

11:30 a.m.

DePaul University

13-13,6-9Big East

Xavier

25-2,14-1Big East

DePaul

Xavier

Blue Demons Can't Hold On Against Xavier Saturday

11/15/2025 2:46:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Box Score

Timme and Stewart with 10 kills each

CINCINNATI – Despite becoming the first team to take an opening set against Xavier in over a month, DePaul volleyball couldn't hold against the Musketeers in a Saturday 3-1 loss. The Blue Demons drop to 13-13 on the season and 6-9 in BIG EAST play.

"Today was a really competitive match for about two sets for us against a top-25 Xavier team," said head coach Marie Zidek. "We fought them very hard and it was one of our best defensive showings of the year. The program took a great step forward today, and we will look to hold our composure for a strong finish."

DePaul's defense held Xavier to a .233 hitting percentage, marking the Musketeers third-lowest of conference play. The Blue Demons were led offensively by its pair of freshmen pin hitters, Morgan Stewart and Kendall Timme, with 10 kills and eight digs each. DePaul's offense was spread efficiently, with Jade Dudley-Epps, Meghan Scholz and Katelyn Oxley tallying seven or more kills as well. Amanda Saeger had 38 assists along with a team-high four blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE
DePaul came out strong to open the match to a 10-2 lead, behind seven-straight points off the serve of Eva Hurrle. The Musketeers immediately responded on an 8-0 run for a lead of their own, 13-12. Out of a Blue Demons timeout, Timme knocked down a kill to tie the match. Following back-and-forth action, DePaul held onto a 21-18 lead following three unanswered points that included a block from Dudley-Epps. DePaul closed out the first set win behind a trio of kills, two coming from the arm of Stewart.

SET TWO
Xavier took an early two point lead to open the second set, 6-4. The Musketeers lead great to 10-6, forcing a DePaul timeout. Out of the break, Scholz connected on a pair of kills to start a 3-0 DePaul run. A kill from Timme gave the Blue Demons a one-point, 14-13, advantage the Blue Demons would eventually use to take an 18-16 advantage. With the set tied at 23, Xavier closed out the set on a kill by Margo Kemp and a DePaul error.

SET THREE
The Musketeers took control opening the third set to a 14-7 lead. DePaul took advantage of a service error from Xavier and followed with a block from Oxley and Stewart to cut the deficit to five. The Musketeers offense continued to overpower DePaul with three-straight kills that would pull them too far away.

SET FOUR
Xavier once again controlled the fourth set from the very beginning, taking a 23-9 advantage. DePaul strung together five-straight points off of the arm of Timme, but Xavier would close out the set with a pair of kills, preventing the Musketeers from gathering any more momentum.

UP NEXT
DePaul concludes its regular-season with Sunday's final match against Butler. The match begins from Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.