Volleyball Earns First BIG EAST Win

Sept. 23, 2005

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette Volleyball team earned its first BIG EAST Conference win tonight sweeping USF, 3-0, at the Al McGuire Center. The Golden Eagles improve to 7-5, 1-0 on the season, while the Bulls drop to 1-8, 0-1.

"I was really please with the play of our seniors tonight, especially Theresa (Coughlin) and Caitie (O'Brien)," said head coach Pati Rolf. "It is great to get our first BIG EAST win and I am looking forward to Sunday's match against Georgetown. The win tonight was a great way to kickoff alumni weekend."

Marquette rolled to an easy game one win, 30-14, sealing the victory with a 10-1 run. The Golden Eagles hit 32.4 percent as junior setter Katie Weidner and sophomore middle blocker Jenn Brown recorded three kills each and senior outside hitter Theresa Coughlin, sophomore setter Monica Renfrow and sophomore outside hitter Kim Todd contributed two kills apiece.

USF fought hard in game two, rallyiing back after being down by three points early in the game and staying even with the Golden Eagles throughout the rest of game. The Bulls were ahead by one point, 30-29, until a kill by Coughlin tied the score at 30 apiece. USF made two consecutive attack errors and Marquette came away with the 32-30 victory in game two. The Golden Eagles hit over 29 percent while holding the Bulls to a 25 percent attacks percentage.

USF continued to stand its ground against the Marquette as the two teams traded points for much of the third game. An assisted block by sophomore middle blocker Tiffany Helmbrecht and Todd and a kill from Todd sparked a 6-3 run to win the game, 30-27, and sweep the match, 3-0.

Coughlin led the way for Marquette hitting over 34 percent behind 11 kills, while Helmbrecht contributed 10 kills and five block assists. As a team, Marquette nailed eight total blocks and hit 21.5 percent.

Kristina Fabris and Michelle Stalbaum led the Bulls with 11 kills each, but only hit 10.4 percent as a team.

The Golden Eagles will return to action in the "The Al" on Sunday, Sept. 25, hosting Georgetown at 1 p.m.