Marquette Volleyball Wins BIG EAST Opener Against Rutgers

Sept. 26, 2008

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- The Marquette women's volleyball team defeated Rutgers in a three-set sweep Friday night in the BIG EAST Conference opener, 3-0 (25-20, 25-181 25-23).

"We played well tonight," said head coach Pati Rolf. "Becka Gonyo had one heck of a game and it was a really good overall effort."

The Golden Eagles lost the first point of the opening set but responded to win the next three to take a 3-1 lead on a kill by freshman Tiara Russell. After an attack error by Leslie Bielski tied the set at 4-4, a Rutgers' kill by Hannah Curtis pushed the Scarlet Knights to a 8-5 lead. A kill by Rabbecka Gonyo retied the set at 9-9 and two straight kills put MU up 12-9, forcing Rutgers to call a timeout.

Out of the timeout, MU and Rutgers battled for the lead and with the score once again tied, this time at 18-18, Marquette called a timeout. Following the timeout, the Golden Eagles took the next three points to put themselves up for good, winning the set 25-20.

In the first frame, Gonyo led the Golden Eagles' front line with four of MU's 10 assisted blocks, while Bielski recorded four kills and Caryn Mastandrea had nine assists.

After Rutgers took the first point once again in the second, Marquette scored six unanswered, with kills from Gonyo, Mastandrea and Ashlee Fisher to take a 6-1 lead. Rutgers never led again in the set as MU pulled away and won, 25-18. The second frame saw Gonyo record a 1.000 attack percentage, hammering home all four of her attacks for kills. Fisher led the squad with five kills in the stanza, while Mastandrea pitched in 10 assists and freshman libero Amy Deelo recorded six digs.

Both squads battled back-and-forth in the third as neither team built up much of a lead early in the set. After another 1-0 Rutgers lead, Fisher sent two balls to the floor to put MU on top 2-1. After a Rutgers' kill, Fisher landed another attack for a kill to put the Golden Eagles up 3-2. After a 4-2 Marquette lead, the Scarlet Knights tied the set at 4-4 and would lead for much of the way.

With the score sitting at 9-9, Rutgers went on a 7-2 run to extend their lead to five points at 16-11. Marquette then fought back to tie the set at 17-17 on a kill by Mastandrea. With MU down 20-18, coach Rolf took a timeout and Marquette responded, tying the set at 21-21 and 22-22 before the Golden Eagles took set's final three points on two kills from Bielski and one from Gonyo. Marquette won the set 25-23, taking the match, 3-0. In the third, Fisher had seven kills, while Mastandrea aided on 16.

"We just tried to stay calm," said Rolf. "With this situation, being on the road, we just wanted to keep the pressure on them and be smart. We stayed steady and kept the balls in play."

Leading the way for the Golden Eagles (6-7, 1-0 BIG EAST) against the Scarlet Knights (1-9, 0-1 BIG EAST) were Fisher with 14 kills, Mastandrea with 35 assists and Deelo with 14 digs.

Marquette returns to action Friday, Oct. 3 at the Al McGuire Center against reigning BIG EAST Champion St. John's.