Volleyball: WVU Captures First BIG EAST Win
September 27, 2009 04:24 PM | General
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
September 27, 2009
BOX SCORE
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University volleyball team won its first BIG EAST match of the season against conference foe Marquette this afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.
“It was really gratifying to get this win in against Marquette and to get our first win in the BIG EAST,” coach Veronica Hammersmith said. “It is something we can build on and it makes our team feel that we can compete in the conference. That is all we want to do; compete and get opportunities to win some games”
The Mountaineers (11-6, 1-1) came back to defeat the Golden Eagles (10-6, 0-2) in a 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11) match.
WVU jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first set after a kill from junior middle blocker Lauren Evans, followed by a service ace from junior libero Bonnie West. Later, with the score at 13-13, Marquette regained the lead and eventually the set after kill from Ashley Beyer.
Set two saw five lead changes and 10 ties, before the Mountaineers pulled away with a kill from junior middle blocker Abby Norman, followed by one from sophomore outside hitter Kylie Armbruster. Up 22-21, three-straight attack errors from Marquette sealed the set for the Mountaineers.
The Mountaineers carried the momentum in the third set, as they held a commanding lead after posting four team blocks and four service aces. The set then ended in the Mountaineers favor after a kill from Armbruster.
Refusing to fall, Marquette bounced back in set four. Tied at 20, a kill from Rabbecka Gonyo gave the Golden Eagles the lead as they went on to win the set.
The fifth set proved to be just as exciting at the rest of the match as the two teams tied on six different occasions. With the score tied at seven, Norman stepped up to post two-straight kills for the Mountaineer lead. A kill from Evans then ended the set to give the Mountaineers their first BIG EAST win since 2007.
WVU had three players in double digits in kills today as Evans and Armbruster posted 16 a piece and senior outside hitter Abby Raines recorded 10.
The Mountaineers also had a strong defensive showing as West and freshman Stephanie Mock recorded 13 digs each.
Sophomore setter Kari Post also played well with a season-high 58 assists and 10 digs.
WVU will continue BIG EAST action this weekend in a 2 p.m. match at Louisville on Saturday, Oct. 3, and a 2 p.m. match against Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 4.
