Mountaineers Fall to Albany

Saturday, September 8

Ft. Myers, Fla.

1:00 p.m.

West Virginia University

3-5

Albany

4-5

Albany

West Virginia

Photo by: Steven Prunty

September 08, 2018 04:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats

By: Amy Salvatore

FT. MYERS, Fla. – Despite 10 kills for a .471 hitting percentage from sophomore middle blocker Katie DeMeo, the West Virginia University volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss to Albany in its second match of the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament Saturday afternoon, held at FGCU's Alico Arena, in Ft. Myers, Florida. The Great Danes (4-5) took the match from the Mountaineers (3-5) in set scores of 25-16, 25-15 and 25-21.

DeMeo had a team-best 10 kills for WVU, followed by freshman outside hitter Kristin Lux with nine. Junior Erin Slinde had 17 assists, splitting time at setter with freshman Lacey Zerwas, who dished out 11 assists.

Sophomore defensive specialist Alexa Hasting and Slinde each recorded five digs, while DeMeo led the blocking effort with one solo block and three block assists.

WVU finished the match hitting .134 with 33 kills and five team blocks. Albany hit .301, racking up 42 kills on 93 attacks and five team blocks.

The Mountaineers couldn't find their offense in set one, falling to the Great Danes, 25-16. With the set tied at 10-10, Albany notched back-to-back-to-back points to take a 13-10 lead and never looked back. The Great Danes later scored four straight for the 21-14 advantage, but DeMeo found the floor and halted the Great Danes' scoring streak. The Mountaineers then capitalized on a Great Dane attacking error, but Albany bounced back, scoring four straight points to win the frame on a service ace, as West Virginia dropped the set to fall into a 1-0 hole in the match.

The second set started similar to the first, with Albany taking six straight for a 13-7 lead midway through the frame. A pair of kills from Lux, along with a service ace from defensive specialist Lindsay Proctor, brought WVU within six, down 19-13. However, another 3-0 Albany run put the Great Danes on top for good at 23-14. Lux put down a late kill, but Albany won the set, 25-15, following a pair of Mountaineer miscues to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The teams traded points early in the third before Albany tallied five in a row for a 9-5 lead. The Mountaineers used a pair of kills from junior outside hitter Katelyn Evans to come within two, trailing 10-8. However, the Great Danes continued to roll, collecting three of four points late in the set for a 20-15 advantage. DeMeo and Lux each put one through the pins, cutting WVU's deficit to four at 21-17. Albany then rattled off a trio of kills to reach set point at 24-18. The Mountaineers extended the set with a trio of kills of their own, but a Great Dane kill gave Albany the 25-21 win and the 3-0 match victory.

West Virginia concludes play at the two-day tournament Saturday evening, as the Mountaineers go head-to-head with host Florida Gulf Coast (5-3) in a 7 p.m. ET tilt. The contest will be broadcasted live on ESPN3. Live stats and video links can be found at WVUsports.com.

Of note, the Mountaineers are nine wins away from collecting their 700th win in program history. West Virginia currently holds a 691-727 all-time record since its inaugural season in 1974.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.