Volleyball: WVU Defeats BC in Five
October 31, 2004 05:11 PM | General
October 31, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team avoided a potential late-match meltdown by defeating Boston College 3-2 (30-26, 30-27, 14-30, 28-30, 15-13) on Sunday, Oct. 31, at the WVU Coliseum.
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| Alison Zemanski scores a point for West Virginia during Sunday afternoon's 3-2 victory over Boston College.
All-Pro Photography/Joe Sadlek photo |
The Mountaineers (16-10, 3-3) jumped out to a two game lead before allowing the Eagles (17-10, 3-3) to rally back and tie the match at two games apiece. West Virginia fell to Connecticut on Friday after opening the contest with a two game lead and allowing the Huskies to win the final three contests en route to their 3-2 victory. WVU refused to allow history to repeat itself and topped BC in the fifth game of the day to take the 3-2 victory.
The first game of the day saw a total of 15 ties and seven lead changes. WVU opened the game with a 4-1 lead before the Eagles scored four of the next five points to tie the contest at five. The two clubs went back and forth the rest of the game before WVU scored two straight to take a 25-23 lead, the first two point lead by any team since the Mountaineers led 13-11. West Virginia used kills from Alison Zemanski and Kelly Mullins to extend its lead and win the game by a score of 30-26.
Game two was close early before WVU went on a 7-2 run to turn a 6-6 tie into a 13-8 advantage. Boston College battled back with a 6-1 run to tie the game at 14 and took a 20-17 lead into a WVU timeout. West Virginia rallied and took a 25-24 lead after Julie Hockenson landed an attack past a BC defender. A Gina Cusanelli ace gave the Mountaineers a two point cushion at 26-24 and propelled them to a 30-27 victory.
WVU looked sluggish out of the intermission period for the second consecutive match. The Mountaineers never led at any point of the third game and allowed Boston College to avoid the sweep with a 30-14 victory.
The Mountaineers began to regain their touch in a game four that saw 14 ties and five lead changes. WVU opened the contest with a 10-6 lead after Zemanski rose above the net to slam a ball past two BC defenders. The Eagles clawed their way back with four straight points to take a one point lead and from there, the two teams played to a 22-22 tie. WVU scored six of the next nine points to take a 28-25 lead before BC shell shocked the Mountaineers with five straight points to win by a 30-28 margin.
Boston College took an early 7-5 lead in game five before WVU went on a 6-1 spurt to take an 11-8 advantage. Timely kills from Stephanie Zolna, Zemanski and Mullins helped WVU maintain a lead through the latter half of the contest. Boston College battled back to make the score 14-13, but WVU secured the win when an attack attempt bounced off an Eagle defender and onto the floor.
Zolna led WVU offensively with 20 kills while Zemanski tallied 16, Hockenson registered 12 and Mullins had 11. Brandice Studnicka, who recorded two timely attacks in game four, compiled a total of 53 assists on the afternoon.
Aurora Ebert-Santos registered 22 digs while Zolna had 18 and Studnicka finished with 16. Zemanski’s play at the net proved to be crucial for the Mountaineers in the fifth and deciding game. The Perrysburg, Ohio, native finished the contest with a match-high six blocks.
West Virginia, who finished with two wins in conference play a year ago, now boasts three BIG EAST victories and is tied for fifth in the conference with Boston College.
The Mountaineers return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 3, when they host Youngstown State at 7:30 p.m. in their 2004 home finale.
