MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – The Duquesne volleyball team (6-7) wrapped up the non-conference slate on Saturday, defeating both Navy (3-2) and Eastern Kentucky (3-1) to close out the Mountaineer Invitational.

It took all five sets, but the Dukes responded down 2-1 to win the final two sets against the Midshipmen (25-20, 17-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-12). After winning the first set, Duquesne dropped the second set to Eastern Kentucky, but rallied to take down the Colonels, 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-22, 25-22).

The Duquesne offense was led on Saturday by Summer Slade (23 kills), Maria Mosbacher (23 kills), Liz Wayne (20 kills) and Morgan Kelly (19 kills). Hailey Poling (45 assists) and Dani Suiter (41 assists) distributed 86 of Duquesne's 97 total assists.

Slade posted double-doubles in both matches, leading Duquesne with 37 digs. Claire Boe registered 24 digs, while Kelly added 19 and Hailey Poling posted 18. Ego Onu earned 12 total blocks to lead the team.

For their outstanding efforts, Liz Wayne and Hailey Poling landed on the Mountaineer Invitational All-Tournament Team. Wayne combined for 28 kills (2.33 kills per set) over the three matches, hitting at a .328 clip. Poling contributed 56 assists (4.67 assists per set) and 20 digs on the weekend.

The Dukes enter A-10 play with victories in four of their last six matches. Duquesne opens up the conference slate at Davidson on Friday night, and completes the weekend with at VCU on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. NAVY

• In the opening set, Navy would begin the contest on a 6-2 run, but the Dukes countered with a 3-0 run to cut the deficit to just one. With Navy leading 8-5, the Dukes jumped ahead on a 6-0 run to take a 14-8 advantage. Navy countered with a scoring run to make it at 17-15 frame. After the two teams traded points, Duquesne would go on a 3-0 run to make it 21-17, and eventually earned the final four points in the set to take the first frame, 25-20.
• Navy also began the second set strong, taking a 7-2 lead, before opening its lead to 12-4. The Dukes got back into the set after a 5-1 surge, cutting the Midshipmen lead to 15-11. Navy finished the set strong on a 10-6 run, tying the match at 1-1 with a 25-17 set two win.
• The third set was closely fought, featuring four ties and two lead changes. Navy took a 13-9 lead in the third set, as the Midshipmen would extend their lead to 19-13. Navy would hold a 21-15, when the Dukes ensued on a 7-0 run to take a 22-21 lead late in the set. The Midshipmen settled down, earning points on four of the final five points in the set to take a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-23 set victory.
• The Dukes jumped to an early 12-3 lead in set four, eventually extending its lead to 17-6. Navy got back into the set, countering with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 17-12. After the teams traded points, Navy would slice the Dukes lead to just 22-20, but Duquesne held off the late rally with a kill from Slade and two Navy attack errors. 
• Navy earned four of the first five points in the fifth set, before Duquesne fired off a 5-0 run to take a 6-4 advantage. With the set score tied at 12-12, a Navy attack error, followed by kills from Onu and Mosbacher lifted Duquesne to its fifth win of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY

• In the final non-conference match of the season, Duquesne began the set with an 8-5 lead. EKU would take the next five points, grabbing a 10-8 advantage. Not to be outdone, the Dukes won the next three points, en route to an 11-1 stretch to take a 19-11 advantage. The Dukes would go on to take the first set, 25-18.
•  No team could gain a significant advantage in the second set, as EKU held a 23-20 lead late in the set. Duquesne fired off a 4-0 run featuring kills from Mosbacher and Slade to reach set point. EKU earned the final three points to win the set and tie the match at 1-1.
• Duquesne led 17-15 in the third set, until the Colonels marched with a 3-1 run to tie the contest at 18-18. Duquesne would hold a slim lead the rest of the way, earning back-to-back points with the score at 23-22 to win the set 25-22.
• EKU began the fourth set with a 4-0 run, before the Dukes immediately embarked on a 5-0 run to make it a 5-4 set. EKU would take a 9-7 lead, before the Dukes reclaimed an advantage at 10-9. The runs continued with EKU leading at 14-11 and Duquesne taking a 16-15 lead. With the set tied at 20-20, Duquesne earned five of the final seven points, as a kill from Wayne on match point sealed Duquesne's fourth victory in six matches.