Volleyball: Mountaineers Fall in Five
September 06, 2009 12:36 AM | General
Sept. 5, 2009
Results
DENVER, Colo., – The West Virginia University volleyball team finished in second place today at the Denver Invitational, in Denver Colo., after falling to the Pioneers.
Denver (3-4) defeated the Mountaineers (5-2) in a 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 25-14, 19-25, 15-6) match.
Juniors Lauren Evans and Abby Norman were named to the all-tournament team for their efforts over the weekend. Evans posted 36 kills with a .265 hitting percentage, while also adding a team-high 17 blocks. Norman recorded a team-high hitting percentage with 28 kills for a .321 average.
In tonight’s match, the Mountaineers got their momentum going in set one after a block from Evans and sophomore Andrea Miller sent WVU on 7-0 run to put the score at 9-3. WVU then held a commanding lead throughout the first set as senior Abby Raines posted seven kills.
In set two, the Mountaineers battled with the Pioneers tying 11 times. Down 14-17 back-to-back kills from sophomore outside hitter Kylie Armbruster and Raines put the Mountaineers back in play. WVU then regained the lead at 18-17 after a block from Armbruster and Evans. However, despite their best efforts, the Pioneers posted 14 team kills including one from freshman Faimie Kingsley to end the set.
The Pioneers carried their energy from the second set into the third, as they dominated the Mountaineers with 15 kills. However, the Mountaineers rebounded to hold a lead throughout the fourth set. With the score 20-18, a kill from Norman, followed by a block from Norman and Armbruster put the Mountaineers up 22-18. Then, a back row kill from Raines and a kill from Armbruster sent the match into five sets.
A 6-0 run by the Pioneers in the fifth set proved too much for the Mountaineers as Denver’s Emmy Davidsmeyer landed seven kills to end the match.
Armbruster led the Mountaineers with 16 kills and eight digs, while sophomore setter Kari Post recorded a season-high 48 assists.
The Mountaineers return to play on Friday, Sept. 11, with a 5 p.m. match against Bucknell, in the first day of the Akron Invitational.
