KENT, Ohio – The Purple Eagles volleyball team was defeated by Purdue Fort Wayne and Kent State in the final matches of the Golden Flashes Classic on Saturday.
Match 1: Niagara vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
SCORE: Purdue Fort Wayne 3, Niagara 1 (25-21, 25-10, 25-21, 25-17)
Match Summary
- The Purple Eagles (0-5) and the Mastodons (4-3) kept things close in the first set. The score was tied six times before Niagara took a 10-7 lead over Purdue Fort Wayne with help from four kills from Caroline Leitch. The Mastodons went on a 6-0 run to take the lead, 13-10. The Purple Eagles went on a run of their own, capped by another kill from Leitch, to tie things up, 13-13. The score was tied five more times before the Mastodons began to pull away, taking the first set, 25-21.
- The Mastodons dominated the second set, allowing NU to score consecutive points only three times. Purdue Fort Wayne won the second set, 25-10, to take a 2-0 match lead.
- The third set was another battle between NU and the Mastodons. The teams were tied 7-7 before Niagara went on a 4-0 run, including kills from Jaycie Roberts and Mirna Kovacevic, to take an 11-7 lead. Purdue Fort Wayne answered with a 4-0 run of its own, tying things up, 11-11. A 5-0 run from the Purple Eagles put them back in the lead, 17-13, and NU held onto its lead for the remainder of the set to earn its first set victory of the season, 25-21.
- The Purple Eagles and the Mastodons went back and forth in the fourth set. Purdue Fort Wayne began to pull away after a 6-0 run, taking a 20-13 lead over the Purple Eagles. The Mastodons would allow the Purple Eagles only two more points in the set and they defeated NU 25-17 for a 3-1 match victory.
Inside the Numbers
- Leitch led the team in kills, averaging 3.00 per set. She recorded 12 total kills and had a team-high 13.5 points.
- Emillie Wright had a team-best 5.50 digs per set and Reva Blitz had 5.00 digs per set. Roberts led the team in total digs with 15.
- Jessica Streuer had a career-high 17 assists.
- Leitch, Cameron Maris and Mary Redl each had one solo block, while Grace Hetterscheidt had a team-best two block assists.
Match 2: Niagara at Kent State
SCORE: Kent State 3, Niagara 0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-16)
Match Summary
- The Golden Flashes (5-2) took a 9-6 lead in the first set, but the Purple Eagles went on a 3-0 run, including kills from Hetterscheidt and Kovacevic, to tie things up, 9-9. Kent State answered with a 4-0 run to reclaim the lead, 13-9. The teams kept things close, but Kent State began to pick up steam on offense, taking a 22-15 lead over NU. The Golden Flashes allowed the Purple Eagles only one more point in the set, taking the first set, 25-16.
- Kent State jumped out to a quick lead in set two but a kill from Alex Paris and a service ace from Wright left the Purple Eagles trailing by only one point, 9-8. The Golden Flashes, however, held onto their lead, taking a 21-14 advantage over NU. The Purple Eagles scored four straight points, including kills from Paris and Jada Carrol, to come within three points of Kent State, 21-18, but the Golden Flashes clung to the lead, taking a 2-0 match lead after winning the second set 25-19.
- The Golden Flashes controlled the third set, allowing the Purple Eagles to score consecutive points only twice. Kent State won set three, 25-16, to sweep the match.
Inside the Numbers
- Carrol and Hetterscheidt led the Purple Eagles with six total kills each and 2.00 kills per set. Carrol led the team in points with 7.5.
- Wright averaged a team-best 5.67 digs per set and had 17 total digs, tying her career-high.
- Streuer had a team-high 12 assists.
- Maris had a career-high five block assists.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles close out non-conference play at the Hartford Invitational Sept. 7-8. NU takes on Hartford at 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 7 and Bucknell (11:00 a.m.) and Brown (5:00 p.m.) on Sept. 8.
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