Volleyball: WVU Wins Two in Day One
September 04, 2009 08:46 PM | General
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
Sept. 4, 2009
Results
Results
DENVER, Colo., – The West Virginia University volleyball went 2-0 today in its first round of the Denver Invitational, with wins over Eastern Illinois and Air Force.
The Mountaineers improved to 4-1 with a 3-0 (32-30, 25-21, 26-24) victory over the Panthers (3-3) and a 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-22) win over the Falcons (4-2).
“We are very happy to be 2-0 so far in this tournament,” coach Veronica Hammersmith says. “The competition has been very good and I am proud of our team for hanging in there in sets that were close.”
In the first match of the day, the Mountaineers battled with the Panthers in set one, winning with a score of 32-30. Down only in the first part of the set, the Mountaineers rebounded with a team effort posting 11 kills and 18 digs. WVU also posted an outstanding six team blocks, including one by juniors Abby Norman and Andrea Miller to end the set.
With the momentum in their favor, the Mountaineers continued to power the Panthers taking set two 25-21. Tied at 14, a bad assist from the Panthers, followed by a kill from Miller pushed the Mountaineers into the lead. Miller led the offense with three kills and added one more block to win the set.
The Mountaineers led all of set three as sophomore outside hitter Kylie Armbruster and junior middle blocker Lauren Evans notched five kills each to end the match.
In the win, Armbruster led the team with 10 kills and seven digs, while sophomore setter Kari Post added 30 assists and 11 digs.
In their second match of the day, the Mountaineers flew past the Falcons with 42 team kills and 37 blocks.
In set one, WVU battled to a score of 19-19. Then, after a block from Evans and Armbruster, followed by a kill from Evans, the Mountaineers went on a 3-0 run to regain the lead. Senior right side hitter Abby Raines then took control to end the set with her fourth kill.
The Mountaineers dominated in set two, which ended on a kill from Norman. Then, in set three, WVU started on a 6-0 run, but let the Falcons come back to tie the game at 21. Raines once again took charge landing a kill to give the Mountaineers the lead again. After a strong defensive showing, Evans ended the match with her ninth kill.
Raines led the team with 12 kills and seven digs, while Post recorded her second double-double with 31 assists and 11 digs.
The Mountaineers are set to end the Denver Invitational tomorrow with a 3 p.m. match against Southern Utah and a 7:30 p.m. M.T. match against tournament host Denver.
