Marquette University
Duke University
Volleyball Falls to Duke in Season Opener, 3-1
8/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 25, 2006
DURHAM, N.C. - Despite double-doubles by senior Jamie Mueller and junior Kim Todd, the Marquette University volleyball team dropped their first match of the 2006 season, 3-1 (25-30, 30-28, 17-30, 21-30), to Duke at the Duke Invitational in Durham, N.C.
Mueller connected for 11 kills and 25 digs, while Todd registered 16 kills and 15 digs in the match for the Golden Eagles, who hit 13.5 percent as a team in the match.
In the opener, MU scored their first point on the season off an error by Duke, taking what would be their only lead of the game. The Blue Devils went on an 11-5 run at that point to take five point lead, but back came the Golden Eagles, scoring three consecutive points to cut the score to two at 11-9. Duke then came back with an even stronger run, grabbing a game-high lead at 27-17. Despite a game-high four kills by Todd, the Blue Devils captured game one, 30-25.
Marquette came back with a 30-28 game-two victory, despite trailing for the majority of the frame. MU never trailed by more than three points, but was unable to take the lead until a Nicole Wallace kill moved her team ahead of Duke 28-27. Another point by the Blue Devils tied the score at 28-28, but the Golden Eagles took advantage of a hitting error and a final point by Mueller to win game two. For the second straight game, Todd tallied the game-high in kills with eight, hitting 33.3 percent.
Duke proved to be strong down the stretch, winning game three, 30-17, and game four, 30-21. Mueller led Marquette with nine kills total in the two games. The difference in the final two games came down to hitting, as the Golden Eagles hit just 2.2 percent to the Blue Devils' 38.1 percent in game three, and were again out-hit 13.5-30.2 in game four.
Freshman Leslie Bielski had an outstanding match in her first for Marquette with nine kills and two blocks. Junior Monica Renfrow led the squad with 26 assists while junior Tiffany Helmbrecht was high with seven blocks (1 BS, 6 BA).
Three players for Duke tallied double-doubles, including Carrie DeMange, who led everyone with 23 kills.
Marquette (0-1) will continue play tomorrow at Cameron Stadium as they take on Virginia Commonwealth at 11 a.m. before wrapping-up the Duke Invitational with a match against Gardner-Webb at 4 p.m. VCU defeated Gardner-Webb 3-0 (30-23, 30-25, 30-27) in earlier action Friday.
