Volleyball loses to DePaul, 3-2

Nov. 1, 2008

MILWAUKEE -- The Marquette women's volleyball team dropped a marathon match at DePaul Saturday afternoon, 3-2 (21-25, 30-28, 26-24, 23-25, 15-12).

"DePaul executed well today and played with a lot of energy," said head coach Pati Rolf. "Tia (Russell) played great this afternoon, probably the best all around performance that I have seen out of her. She showed a lot of leadership even though she is a freshman and played with confidence and was very positive."

Senior Ashlee Fisher led Marquette with 19 kills, while Leslie Bielski and Tiara Russell also finished in double-digits with 13 and 10 kills respectively. Russell also added four assisted blocks to go along with Rabbecka Gonyo's team high five blocks. Caryn Mastandrea contributed 45 assists and seven kills, while Amy Deelo recorded 20 digs.

In the first set, DePaul got off to a 4-0 start after three straight attack errors by the Golden Eagles. A kill by Fisher then put Marquette on the board. DePaul would maintain their lead until another kill by Fisher tied the score at 19-19. After a kill by Jacie Fielder put the Blue Demons up 20-19, the Golden Eagles reeled off six of the next seven points to take the set 25-21, capped by a kill from Russell.

A kill by Fisher in the second put Marquette on the board first and the Golden Eagles shot out to a 5-3 lead before DePaul responded to tie the score at 5-5. The two squads battled back and forth and the set sat at 25-25 and 27-27 before a DePaul timeout. After the timeout, Marquette added a kill from Leslie Bielski to go up 28-27. From there, DePaul closed out the scoring with three kills to take the set, 30-28.

Out of the intermission DePaul was the first to put points on the board before Marquette came back to tie the set at 1-1 and 2-2. A kill from Bielski lifted MU to a 3-2 lead and was the first of three straight Marquette points to put MU up, 5-2. After the Blue Demons pulled within one at 8-7, Marquette scored three straight, with two points coming on kills from Bielski and Katie Vancura. With its lead extended to 11-7, Marquette allowed the Blue Demons to tie the set at 18-18 before calling a timeout. With MU down 21-19, the Golden Eagles scored four straight and eventually sat at set-point, 24-22. From there, the Blue Demons rallied to take the next four points and the set, 26-24.

Mastandrea put MU up 1-0 with a kill to start the fourth stanza. A service ace by Deelo put Marquette up 5-3 and two straight kills by Tiara Russell extended the MU lead to 9-5 before a DePaul timeout. With the score tied at 23-23, a kill by Fisher and a block by Fisher and Gonyo gave Marquette the set, 25-23.

As the previous sets had been, the fifth set was a back and forth battle until the final point was scored. With Marqutte leading 11-9, DePaul reeled off six of the final seven points to take the set and the match, 15-12.

Sarah Cullen led the Blue Demons with 22 kills on 62 attacks and also recorded 13 digs for a double-double. Setter Christy Landschoot also recorded a double-double with 62 assists and 10 digs.

The Golden Eagles (8-14, 2-7 BIG EAST) return to action, Sunday Nov. 2 at Notre Dame (12-11, 7-3 BIG EAST). Live stats will be available on GoMarquette.com along with a live video stream, courtesy of UND.com.