DePaul University Athletics
Saturday, September 12
Chicago, Ill.
4 p.m.
DePaul University
6-2,0-0Big East
3
vs
0
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Western Michigan
6-2,0-0MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Mich. | 19 | 23 | 19 | 0 |
| DePaul | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Dudley-Epps Breaks DePaul Single-Match Hitting Record in Sweep of WMU
9/12/2026 6:50:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
DePaul sweeps Western Michigan Saturday night at McGrath-Phillips Arena
CHICAGO – DePaul volleyball continued its impressive run at the 2026 DePaul Invitational by sweeping its opponent for the second-straight day, dominating Western Michigan 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-19) Saturday night. Junior middle blocker Jade Dudley-Epps smashed a 19-year-old single-match record for hit percentage, swinging an impressive .895 on 17 kills, taking down Kate Letcher's .833 record set back in 2007.
"Our reception and defense stepped up big time tonight against a very intelligent, experienced Western Michigan squad," said head coach Marie Zidek. "They had a tough setter to play against, but we dialed in on their attackers one by one with our backcourt defense until our block could get involved at the key moments to finish."
DePaul was led offensively by Dudley-Epps' record-setting performance and Kendall Timme, who added 18 kills and hit .424 of her own. Isabela Tavares-Salomon chipped in eight kills, Leonor Polezzi orchestrated the attack with a season-high 43 assists, and Nora Mannion paced the back row with 16 digs. For Western Michigan, Cassidy Pratley led all Broncos with nine kills, followed by Izzy Swiercz and Annalise Patchett with eight apiece. Leah Richmond ran the WMU offense with 30 assists, while Elana Erickson topped the Broncos' defense with seven digs.
"That third set really came down to who could elevate, either our system or the players within it stepping up," said Zidek. "Jade Dudley-Epps was a key force all night and took away any hope for the Broncos when she recorded her 17th kill, then backed it up with a multi-serve run that included an ace and two point-saving digs. Incredibly proud of how much this group is growing match by match, now we've set ourselves up for a mini championship tomorrow versus Auburn."
How it Happened
SET ONE | DePaul built an early cushion and stretched the lead to 22-13, but Western Michigan answered with six unanswered points to pull within 22-19. The Blue Demons regrouped out of a timeout and closed the set on a 3-0 run, the final two points coming on a Dudley-Epps kill and a block/attack error, to take set one, 25-19.
SET TWO | The two teams traded points throughout, with the set tied as late as 13-13. DePaul answered with consecutive kills from Tavares-Salomon and Dudley-Epps to push ahead 15-13, but Western Michigan refused to fold, pulling within one three separate times down the stretch. A late Dudley-Epps kill sealed it for DePaul, 25-23.
SET THREE | The tightest frame of the match saw six ties, the last at 14-14, before DePaul seized control for good. Kills from Diana and Dudley-Epps put the Blue Demons ahead 15-14, and DePaul rode a 7-2 run out of a media timeout, capped by a Dudley-Epps service ace, to open a 22-16 cushion. Western Michigan never got closer than four the rest of the way as DePaul closed out the sweep, 25-19.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
Stay up to date with all things DePaul Volleyball at DePaulBlueDemons.com. For real-time updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram, and Facebook, or sign up for email updates and text alerts.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season ticket memberships are now live for the 2026 DePaul Volleyball season! Season ticket memberships include access to all 15 anticipated regular season matches at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park, plus an opportunity to purchase tickets for the Wintrust Arena match against Nebraska. Season tickets are available beginning at $79 for general admission and $129 for courtside seating! Want to bring your team to the match? Group ticket deposits are also available for parties of 10 or more. Visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets to reserve your seats today!
"Our reception and defense stepped up big time tonight against a very intelligent, experienced Western Michigan squad," said head coach Marie Zidek. "They had a tough setter to play against, but we dialed in on their attackers one by one with our backcourt defense until our block could get involved at the key moments to finish."
DePaul was led offensively by Dudley-Epps' record-setting performance and Kendall Timme, who added 18 kills and hit .424 of her own. Isabela Tavares-Salomon chipped in eight kills, Leonor Polezzi orchestrated the attack with a season-high 43 assists, and Nora Mannion paced the back row with 16 digs. For Western Michigan, Cassidy Pratley led all Broncos with nine kills, followed by Izzy Swiercz and Annalise Patchett with eight apiece. Leah Richmond ran the WMU offense with 30 assists, while Elana Erickson topped the Broncos' defense with seven digs.
"That third set really came down to who could elevate, either our system or the players within it stepping up," said Zidek. "Jade Dudley-Epps was a key force all night and took away any hope for the Broncos when she recorded her 17th kill, then backed it up with a multi-serve run that included an ace and two point-saving digs. Incredibly proud of how much this group is growing match by match, now we've set ourselves up for a mini championship tomorrow versus Auburn."
How it Happened
SET ONE | DePaul built an early cushion and stretched the lead to 22-13, but Western Michigan answered with six unanswered points to pull within 22-19. The Blue Demons regrouped out of a timeout and closed the set on a 3-0 run, the final two points coming on a Dudley-Epps kill and a block/attack error, to take set one, 25-19.
SET TWO | The two teams traded points throughout, with the set tied as late as 13-13. DePaul answered with consecutive kills from Tavares-Salomon and Dudley-Epps to push ahead 15-13, but Western Michigan refused to fold, pulling within one three separate times down the stretch. A late Dudley-Epps kill sealed it for DePaul, 25-23.
SET THREE | The tightest frame of the match saw six ties, the last at 14-14, before DePaul seized control for good. Kills from Diana and Dudley-Epps put the Blue Demons ahead 15-14, and DePaul rode a 7-2 run out of a media timeout, capped by a Dudley-Epps service ace, to open a 22-16 cushion. Western Michigan never got closer than four the rest of the way as DePaul closed out the sweep, 25-19.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
Stay up to date with all things DePaul Volleyball at DePaulBlueDemons.com. For real-time updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram, and Facebook, or sign up for email updates and text alerts.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season ticket memberships are now live for the 2026 DePaul Volleyball season! Season ticket memberships include access to all 15 anticipated regular season matches at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park, plus an opportunity to purchase tickets for the Wintrust Arena match against Nebraska. Season tickets are available beginning at $79 for general admission and $129 for courtside seating! Want to bring your team to the match? Group ticket deposits are also available for parties of 10 or more. Visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets to reserve your seats today!
Players Mentioned
MB
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
L/DS
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
S
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
OH
/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALLTeam Stats
WMU
DePaul
Kills
39
52
Errors
14
13
Attempts
102
102
Hitting %
.245
.382
Points
44.0
60.0
Assists
34
44
Aces
2
2
Blocks
3
6
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Saturday, September 12
Friday, September 11
Friday, September 11
Friday, September 11