DePaul Prevails Against UConn in Conference Opener

Friday, September 26

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

DePaul University

8-4,1-0Big East

UConn

11-2,0-1Big East

UConn

DePaul

DePaul Prevails Against UConn in Conference Opener

9/26/2025 10:01:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Box Score Photo Gallery

Jade Dudley-Epps adds career-high nine blocks

CHICAGO – DePaul volleyball defeated the Connecticut Huskies 3-1 (31-29, 25-18, 14-25, 25-23) to begin BIG EAST play, improving to 8-4 on the season. The Huskies fall to 11-2.

"We trained a lot of 23-23 situations this week, knowing that UConn was going to bring game to us with [Doga] Kutlu, [Emma] Werkmeister and [Audrey] Rome," said head coach Marie Zidek.

"We have been battle tested all year. Our players were ready to play system volleyball. This group is on a steep learning curve. That third set shows you just how hot a BIG EAST team can get. This is a great league and players are really good. If you lose focus for just one second, any team can get on you fast. This group learned tonight that league play is a different beast and we must show with team game how much we respect what it will take to be successful."

Kendall Timme added 20 kills and paced the DePaul offense for the second consecutive match, also leading the defense with 13 digs for her second career double-double.
Senior Katelynn Oxley added her fourth consecutive match and seventh this season with double-figure kills, logging eleven. Her fellow middle blocker Jade Dudley-Epps was strong at the net, adding a match-best nine blocks.

Setter Amanda Saeger facilitated the DePaul side with 38 assists, after being recognized prior to the match for reaching 1,000 career assists. Libero Eva Hurrle registered 11 digs, and her first career match in double-figure assists, with ten.

The Huskies were propelled by 20 kills from Werkmeister.

SET ONE
The Huskies pulled out to a quick 7-4 lead, but the Blue Demons battled back, evening the set at 15 behind three kills from Dudley-Epps and two from Oxley. The teams traded points the rest of the way and DePaul fought off three UConn set points to earn a pair of its own. Consecutive errors from the Huskies ended the set, 31-29, in favor of DePaul.

SET TWO
The Huskies opened with a 3-0 scoring run but allowed the Blue Demons to remain close with a trio of service errors. Knotted at ten points apiece, DePaul went on a 3-0 run to take the edge, and another trio of errors from the Huskies extended their advantage. Three more kills each from Dudley-Epps and Timme sealed the set win for DePaul, 25-18.

SET THREE
UConn came out swinging yet again in the third frame, jumping out to an 8-1 lead, behind three kills from Werkmeister and two from Rome. A Dudley-Epps kill broke the run, but the Blue Demons could not recover, with Werkmeister and Rome each posting an additional trio of kills en route to a 25-14 set victory for UConn.

SET FOUR
The Blue Demons returned to form in the fourth frame, with quick kills from Meghan Scholz, Oxley and Timme earning them a four-point edge. The middle of the set saw a multitude of errors from both sides, but it was a late kill and service ace from Werkmeister that allowed the Huskies to knot the set at 22 points. A kill from Scholz and two from Timme earned the Blue Demons the final frame, 25-23.

UP NEXT
The Blue Demons welcome the Providence Friars on Saturday, Sept. 27, to conclude their weekend. First serve is set for 4 p.m. inside McGrath-Phillips Arena and fans can pick up a DePaul Pride rally towel, while supplies last.

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