Greencastle, Ind. - The Denison women's volleyball team stole the first set from (RV) DePauw on Tuesday night as they looked to secure a road upset, but the Big Red couldn't overcome losses in sets two and three and fell 3-1 to the Tigers. Denison drops to 7-14 overall on the season, and 1-3 in the NCAC.
The opening set of the night went back and forth, as
Devon Moore traded kills with the Tiger offense. Denison scored a pair of two-point swings to keep the pace, and later tied the set at 13-13 following a spark from
Emily Monachino. Trailing 17-15 after the technical timeout, Denison made its push to surge ahead, using a service error from DePauw to spark a 4-0 run. The run capped at 6-1 after consecutive
Devon Moore kills, but the 21-18 lead would be drawn back to even following a late DePauw push. Tied 21-21, Denison benefited from a service error and used the momentum to score the final three points of the set, winning set one 25-21 after
Kate Sicklick and
Devon Moore teamed up for a block.
DePauw responded from the opening set loss, running wild on an 8-2 run to open the second set. Denison was unable to keep the pace as a second five-point run in the set allowed the Tigers to increase their lead to 10, as the Big Red eventually trailed by 12.
Maeve Perry and
Devon Moore scored kills to chip back within nine, but the margin was too much to overcome, as a third five-point run allowed DePauw to run off with a 25-12 victory.
The Big Red started the third set quickly, scoring a pair of blocks from Sicklick to grab a quick 5-3 lead. DePauw would respond, scoring on 11 of the next 13 rallies to take a controlling 14-7 lead. Denison's deficit would increase to double figures as the Tigers embarked on another run, but the Big Red would fight back, as a
Ryan Kotalik service ace was turning point to bring the set back within four points. Moore and Perry saw Denison get back within four points, but the 21-17 score would be as close as the visitors got to taking the third set, as DePauw went on to win 25-17.
Trailing 2-1 in the match, Denison fought admirably in the fourth set, going on a 6-0 run after falling behind 6-3 to take a lead.
Zoe Johnson's appearance in the set sparked the Big Red, as they won the race to 15 points behind two more kills by the first-year collegian. After the technical timeout, DePauw turned the tide of the set, going on a 4-0 run to push back in front 17-15. The two sides traded points as DePauw gradually won the race to 20 points, with the home team eventually reaching match point on top 24-19.
Emily Monachino helped the Big Red stave off elimination in the set for two rallies, but the Tigers would eventually put away the match with a 25-21 fourth set victory.
In the loss,
Devon Moore scored a match-high 14 kills, standing as the lone player in the match to reach double digits.
Katelyn Chiu had 13 assists and a service ace in the loss, while
Whitley Metz led the Big Red in digs with 20.
Amelia Kurtz would finish with a double-double of 11 assists and 15 digs, and
Kate Sicklick had a season-high eight block assists in the loss.
UP NEXT: The Big Red will look to get back in the win column on Saturday afternoon, as they travel to The College of Wooster for a 2:00 p.m. NCAC match.
