CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The Urbana University women's volleyball team split Saturday's matches at the PSAC/MEC Crossover with a 3-1 win over Shippensburg and 3-1 setback to Mercyhurst.
For the second day in a row, UU (2-5) met an undefeated team in the first match of a doubleheader as the Shippensburg Raiders carried a 5-0 ledger. The Raiders were voted the preseason favorite in the PSAC Southeast Division and swept three of their first five matches.
The Blue Knights were up for the challenge and came out firing with a 25-22 win in the opening set. After Ship took the second set 25-16, UU won the next two frames by the same score, 25-22.
In the final set, Ship overcame an early three-point deficit to take a 9-8 lead and then the Blue Knights built a four-point advantage at 16-12. Ship came back again to get within one at 21-20, but UU hung on for the win as
Courtney Niesen's second ace secured the match point. Setter
Anna Davis also had a huge point down the stretch with a no-look dump down the line.
Hannah Delor and
Maggie Burns each had double-doubles to lead the Blue Knights. Burns finished with 17 kills and 17 digs while Delor had 17 kills and 15 digs.
Lexi Reinert also reached double-digit kills with 10. Niesen had a team-high 34 digs and Davis produced a team-high 27 assists.
Deandra Atwood also recorded a double-double with 15 assists and 10 digs.
In the tournament finale, UU fell by final set scores of 25-22, 25-19, 23-25 and 25-20. The Blue Knights had 14 service errors while the Lakers recorded 12 total blocks to keep control of the match.
Delor led the second match with 15 kills and 19 digs, while Reinert and Burns had 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Niesen logged 27 digs and the Davis-Atwood setter duo each posted a combined 34 assists and 20 digs.
Natalie Perez (5 kills),
Riley Adleta (5 kills) and
Jenna Franks (8 digs) were also contributors.
UP NEXT: UU returns to action on Friday, Sept. 20 with a non-conference road match against Ursuline.
