Prior to the Oct 21, 2011, match against St. Louis University at the A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, the Duquesne University Women’s Volleyball team was 8-0. Sadly, the Dukes were unable to stave off the Billikins and fell 3-0, snapping the Dukes three-match win streak.
First set. With Saint Louis leading, 24-21, the Dukes managed to hold off two Billikins set points before the Saint Louis’ Carly Markum smashed the set-winning kill that gave Saint Louis University the 25-23 win. Nicole Wright, a 5th-year senior was extremely active and seemed to be the single point of strength for Duquesne — providing dig after dig. SLU won 25-23.
Second set. The Dukes quickly jumped out 2-0, but the defense began to struggle and appeared a bit unorganized at times. On several occasions, the back third of the court was unprotected and SLU capitalized. Allison Foschia became more involved and provided digs and a few key kill shots.
With the second set tied at 22-22, Saint Louis University’s Emma Goldschmidt and Andrea Beaty had back-to-back kills to put them up 24-22. After a much needed Duquesne timeout, they came back with a Scheirman kill — 24-23, SLU. On the next play, Beaty smashed the volleyball with the set-winning kill. The Billikens won the set 25-23 taking a 2-0 lead into intermission.
Third set. The Duquesne University Women’s Volleyball webpage summed up the third set best, “Ten of the first 15 points in the third set resulted in a side-out. With SLU leading 21-19, the Billikens rattled off four straight points off of four straight Duquesne attack errors. The third set final was 25-19 and the match 3-0.”
The Dukes fell to 15-8 (overall) and will remain at home to host Rhode Island on Oct. 28th and Fordham on Oct. 30th for Senior Day.
Giovanni Badalamenti lives in Pittsburgh and follows Duquesne University Sports.
Read more from this contributor:
“Collegiate Women’s Soccer Recap: St.Louis at Duquesne”
“Three of the Greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of All-time”
Sources:
Personal attendance
Official Box Scores, provided by Duquesne University’s Ryan Gavatorta
Duquesne University, “Volleyball Falls to Saint Louis 3-0″