Volleyball: Mountaineers Sweep Rutgers
November 14, 2009 04:27 PM | General
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
November 14, 2009
Results
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team swept BIG EAST competitor Rutgers this afternoon at the WVU Coliseum in its quest for a conference tournament bid.
The Mountaineers improved to 17-12, 6-7 after defeating the Scarlet Knights (10-18, 3-10) in a 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-14) match.
“We are one step closer to our goal of getting into the BIG EAST tournament with today’s win,” coach Veronica Hammersmith says. “We are happy to be in this position and we are looking forward to our match tomorrow.”
The Mountaineers fought hard for the lead in set one, after the Scarlet Knights jumped to an early 12-7 lead. Down, 18-19, two-straight kills from senior Kristina Gallahan, followed by a block from junior middle blocker Lauren Evans gave the Mountaineers the lead. Gallahan then posted her fifth kill of the set, to give WVU a 24-21 advantage, as an excellent save from sophomore outside hitter Kylie Armbruster won the set.
WVU held the lead throughout most of set two, until a RU block and a kill from Emma Chrystal gave Rutgers a 17-16 lead. However, the Mountaineers refused to fall as junior middle blocker Abby Norman posted a kill, while Evans and sophomore setter Kari Post recorded back-to-back kills to put WVU on top. Tied at 22, a set of kills from Evans and Armbruster put WVU in position for the win as a Rutgers attack error ended the set.
A kill from Post started a 6-0 WVU run in the third set, as the Mountaineers gained an early 7-1 advantage over the Scarlet knights. After another 8-0 WVU run, led by Gallahan’s serving, the Mountaineers never looked back as an Armbruster kill ended the match.
The Mountaineers had three players with double digit digs today, as junior Libero Bonnie West led with 14, senior defensive specialist Tamara De Angelis posted 11 and Armbruster recorded 10.
Evans also had a good match with eight kills and eight blocks, while Post recorded 25 assists, four kills and eight digs.
WVU is set to complete the 2009 regular season tomorrow as they host Seton Hall at noon. The Mountaineers will find out if they are in the BIG EAST Championship on Sunday afternoon.
