Volleyball Notches Program's 500th Victory Against DePaul

Oct. 8, 2006

CHICAGO - It was a historic day for Marquette volleyball Sunday afternoon in Chicago, Ill., as the Golden Eagles (8-9, 4-2) defeated the DePaul Blue Demons (4-16, 0-5), 3-0 (30-24, 31-29, 30-15), at the DePaul Athletic Center, recording the program's 500th victory all-time. Senior Jamie Mueller led MU with her 15th double-double (13 K, 13 D) of the season.

"I thought we really came together today," said head coach Pati Rolf. "Overall, we played well this weekend. It was probably the best team effort we've seen all season, especially in game three."

After scoring the game's first point off an error by DePaul, Marquette fell behind three at 5-2 and then four at 12-8. A 4-0 run by the Golden Eagles culminated in a block by Mueller to tie the game at 13-13, prompting a Blue Demon timeout. Soon after the break, MU took the lead for the second time in the game, moving ahead 15-14 on a kill by Mueller. After trading the next six scores, Marquette tallied three consecutive points to take a two-point lead at 20-18, forcing a second timeout by DePaul. The Golden Eagles outscored the Blue Demons 9-4 after the huddle, increasing their advantage to 29-22. After surviving two game-points, DPU surrendered the final dagger from the arm of junior Tiffany Helmbrecht as MU won game one, 30-24.

Marquette scored the first two points of game two, but DePaul answered with a 9-1 run to take a 9-3 lead. MU cut the deficit in half, down 9-6, before tying the game at 11-11 on a DPU error. An ace by freshman Caryn Mastandrea on the next serve gave the Golden Eagles the lead, 12-11. MU increased its lead to five at 17-12 after a 14-3 run, but DPU rallied, cutting the lead to one at 18-17, to force a timeout by the Golden Eagles. The Blue Demons scored with a block on the next point to tie the game, before taking a 19-18 lead on an ace. After trading points, Marquette went ahead by two on a kill by junior Kim Todd, before increasing its lead to four at 26-22, prompting a timeout by DePaul. The Blue Demons rallied to tie the game at 28-28, but a kill by Mueller put the Golden Eagles back up 29-28. Again, DPU tied the game, 29-29, but MU recorded the next two points, winning the second frame, 31-29, on an error by DePaul.

With the score tied 4-4 in game three, Marquette went on a 5-0 run, capped on an ace by junior Jenn Brown to take a five-point lead. It increased its lead to nine at 20-11 on a kill by freshman Leslie Bielski, forcing a timeout by DePaul, their second of the game. MU finished the game on a 10-4 run to come out on top, 30-15.

Senior Nicole Wallace led the Golden Eagles to a 41.2 hitting percentage in game three, recording six kills.

Marquette will take one day off before welcoming cross-town rival Wis.-Milwaukee to the Al McGuire Center, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.