Volleyball: Kentucky defeats WVU
September 10, 2011 09:31 PM | General
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The West Virginia volleyball team was defeated by Kentucky tonight in the final match of the University of Kentucky Invitational.
The Mountaineers (2-9) battled with the Wildcats (9-2) before ultimately falling 3-0 (18-25, 22-25, 24-26) in the match.
“Once again, this weekend we got better from match to match,” coach Jill Kramer says. “Our preseason schedule was pretty tough. We played some great teams. We are looking for that to prepare us for conference play.”
WVU struggled in the first set as the Wildcats jumped to a 20-12 lead. Hitting errors by Kentucky and kills from middle blockers Abby Monson and Evyn McCoy closed the gap before a kill from Gretchen Giesler ended the set 25-18.
A kill from freshman outside hitter Halle Kearney started set two before the Wildcats went on an 8-5 run. The Mountaineers cut the lead to one with another kill from Kearney and a Kentucky hitting error before the Wildcats extended their lead to four. WVU held off set point three times before a service error by the Mountaineers ended the set 25-22.
Coming out of the break, WVU started the third set strong by taking a 16-11 lead. Kentucky used its offense to slowly close the gap and tie the game at 23. The Mountaineer defense stepped up to give WVU its first set point at 24-23 before kills from UK’s Lauren O’Connor and Elizabeth Kolberstein ended the set and the match.
Senior libero Serinna Russo was named to the all-tournament team after posting 61 digs and one service ace.
“We get two weeks of practice now before we open conference with Rutgers, and we have a whole list of things that we need to work on before that first conference match,” Kramer says. “I think we have done some great things throughout the preseason and we know what we are capable of doing. We just have to be more mentally tough and play more focused for longer periods of time.”
The Mountaineers return to action at the WVU Coliseum Sept. 23 and 25 and will open conference play against BIG EAST foes Rutgers and Seton Hall. The team will take on the Scarlet Knights Friday at 7 p.m., and the Pirates Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Mountaineers (2-9) battled with the Wildcats (9-2) before ultimately falling 3-0 (18-25, 22-25, 24-26) in the match.
“Once again, this weekend we got better from match to match,” coach Jill Kramer says. “Our preseason schedule was pretty tough. We played some great teams. We are looking for that to prepare us for conference play.”
WVU struggled in the first set as the Wildcats jumped to a 20-12 lead. Hitting errors by Kentucky and kills from middle blockers Abby Monson and Evyn McCoy closed the gap before a kill from Gretchen Giesler ended the set 25-18.
A kill from freshman outside hitter Halle Kearney started set two before the Wildcats went on an 8-5 run. The Mountaineers cut the lead to one with another kill from Kearney and a Kentucky hitting error before the Wildcats extended their lead to four. WVU held off set point three times before a service error by the Mountaineers ended the set 25-22.
Coming out of the break, WVU started the third set strong by taking a 16-11 lead. Kentucky used its offense to slowly close the gap and tie the game at 23. The Mountaineer defense stepped up to give WVU its first set point at 24-23 before kills from UK’s Lauren O’Connor and Elizabeth Kolberstein ended the set and the match.
Senior libero Serinna Russo was named to the all-tournament team after posting 61 digs and one service ace.
“We get two weeks of practice now before we open conference with Rutgers, and we have a whole list of things that we need to work on before that first conference match,” Kramer says. “I think we have done some great things throughout the preseason and we know what we are capable of doing. We just have to be more mentally tough and play more focused for longer periods of time.”
The Mountaineers return to action at the WVU Coliseum Sept. 23 and 25 and will open conference play against BIG EAST foes Rutgers and Seton Hall. The team will take on the Scarlet Knights Friday at 7 p.m., and the Pirates Sunday at 2 p.m.
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