Sept. 24, 2010

Box Score

PITTSBURGH - The Duquesne volleyball team opened its 2010 Atlantic 10 Conference schedule with a 3-2 (25-17, 17-25, 24-25, 25-20, 5-15) loss to Xavier on Friday night.

Sophomore Sara Scheirman led the Dukes with a career-high 23 kills. She added 10 digs to record her fifth double-double of the season. Freshman Allison Foschia (12 kills, 13 digs) and junior Sara Svorinic (12 digs, 50 assists) also had double-doubles. Amy Palko had a match-best 29 digs for the Dukes who fell to 11-5, 0-1.

DU came out the gates on fire, opening up with an early 5-0 lead. The Musketeers would only get as close as two points at 10-8. Back-to-back kills by Foschia ended the first set at 25-17.

The second set featured six early ties. XU would see a lead as high as nine points twice en route to winning the second set 25-17.

After the intermission, Duquesne took an early 8-1 lead in the third set. A 13-6 Xavier run deadlocked the set at 14-14. Six more ties would follow - the last at 24-24. XU would get back-to-back kills to take a 2-1 match lead.

The fourth set was close early, but DU pulled ahead at 20-12. The Musketeers would within four points, but a Nicole Wright kill sealed the set for Duquesne at 25-20.

In the fifth and deciding set, it was all Xavier. XU scored the first four points and maintained control throughout the set. In the end, Xavier took the set 15-5 and the match 3-2.

The difficult opening to the A-10 schedule continues on Sunday afternoon when the Dukes host #19 Dayton at 1:00 p.m.

After the match with the Flyers, there will be a kids (13 and under) mini-clinic and autograph session for free.

Xavier at Duquesne