Senior Day Sweep
November 06, 2005 05:01 PM | General
November 6, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University volleyball team celebrated its final home match of the season with a 3-0 (30-27, 30-23, 30-26) sweep of BIG EAST foe DePaul on Sunday, Nov. 6, at the WVU Coliseum.
 |
||
| Junior Gina Cusanelli celebrates a point during West Virginia's three-game sweep of DePaul Sunday at the WVU Coliseum.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
The Mountaineers (16-11, 4-8 BIG EAST) came out with intensity going on a 5-0 run to begin the match, forcing a DePaul timeout right off the bat. The Blue Demons (4-20, 1-10 BIG EAST) fought back going on a 3-1 run. West Virginia responded with solid passing from junior Aurora Ebert-Santos to set up key kills by senior Julie Hockenson. DePaul came back with a kill by Denae Gibson to make the score 16-14, causing a Mountaineer timeout. A key block by sophomore Abby Tevis allowed the Mountaineers to go up 22-19 before the Blue Demons battled back to take the lead at 23-22. A powerful kill by senior Stephanie Zolna tied the game at 23 all, before Tevis added another block to put West Virginia up 26-24. With a bullet of a kill by Zolna, the Mission Viejo, Calif., native allowed the Mountaineers to close out the game 30-27. Game one saw only two lead changes, but three tie scores. Tevis had 11 digs in game one alone.
DePaul came out of the gates strong in game two going up 6-2 before West Virginia used kills from Zolna and key blocking from junior Gina Cusanelli and freshman Lisa Hough to tie the game 9-9. With a service ace from senior Kelly Mullins, the Mountaineers went up 15-14, before another Cusanelli block and Tevis kill down the line pushed the lead to 17-14, forcing a Blue Demon timeout. Zolna took control late in the game with powerful serves to make the score 21-15. A hitting error by DePaul allowed WVU to close out the game 30-23. Game two saw four service aces by the Mountaineers.
West Virginia got off strong in game three with a commanding kill by Tevis and great blocking from Hockenson and Mullins to go up 3-0. DePaul was able to capitalize on some WVU errors to tie the game at 6-6. With the Blue Demons up 16-11, West Virginia called timeout. The three senior leaders took over late in the third game. With two straight kills by Mullins and another kill by Hockenson DePaul had no chance of touching, the Mountaineers came back to regain the lead at 23-22. Hockenson added another kill to allow West Virginia to close out the game 30-26.
The Mountaineers were led offensively by Zolna who had a match-high 15 kills, followed by Hockenson who added 13. Mullins finished with eight, while Tevis had six.
West Virginia combined for eight total team blocks on the day.
Prior to Sunday's match, Hockenson, Mullins and Zolna, West Virginia's seniors, were honored in front of the home crowd for their career achievements.
The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. as they travel to face St. John's, then closing out its season at UConn on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m.
