Baltimore, Md. – The Duquesne University volleyball team concluded the Towson-Morgan State Invitational on Saturday afternoon, capturing a 3-1 victory over co-host Morgan State inside Hill Field House. With the victory, the Dukes improve to 2-1 on the season.

POINT OF EMPHASIS
It was a hot start for Duquesne as they jumped out to an early 11-4 lead in the opening stanza. Graduate student Elizabeth Drelling led the way with a pair of kills while senior Madison Floyd and junior Carsyn Henschen found the floor successfully. The Bears would respond with a 6-2 spurt to trim the deficit, 13-11 before later in the set knotting the score at 18-all. Duquesne countered by scoring seven of the final nine points, thanks to a pair of kills from junior Ariel Helm who ended the match with consecutive points, 25-20.

BOUNCE BACK
Morgan State would take set two as it posted a .435 hitting percentage and a trio of blocks to win 25-21. The Dukes would bounce back, taking advantage of the Bears miscues while producing a .400 swing percentage and 15 kills. After jumping out to a 7-6 advantage, Morgan State would even the score at 12-12 by scoring five straight points. The two squads traded the next eight scores before the Dukes mounted its largest run of the set, with a 9-2 stint to take a 25-18 victory and a 2-1 match advantage. Henschen produced a pair of kills while sophomore Avery Hobson found the floor for a point. Duquesne took advantage of five hitting errors from the Bears.

MATCH POINT
In the fourth frame, the Dukes strung together its best outing of the match, tallying 15 kills and a .423 swing percentage. Duquesne jumped out to an early 11-4 lead, where it saw five different Dukes register a point. Drelling led the way by tallying three kills. Morgan State didn't shy away as it netted seven of the next nine points to trim the deficit 13-11. Duquesne stretched its lead with a 5-1 run before holding a 21-14 advantage later in the set. Junior Maggie Colenbrander and freshman Tori Newton each collected a service ace in the final four points to help the Dukes earn a 25-16 win.

INSIDE THE STAT SHEETS
Duquesne was led by a trio of Dukes who all finished with double-digit kills. Drelling and Henschen paced the way with 11 kills each while Drelling produced three digs and an ace while Henschen totaled two blocks. Schrom was the final Duke in double figures, ending with 10 kills and a team-best four service aces. Floyd recorded nine kills and two blocks while sophomore Amalia Martin led the way with seven digs and 16 assists. Sophomore Chloe Wilmot recorded 23 assists and three service aces while Helm tallied right kills and a team-best three blocks.

UP NEXT
Duquesne returns home for the first time this season when it hosts the Chick-fil-A Robinson Classic on Friday, Sept. 6 – Saturday, Sept. 7. The Dukes will battle Niagara on Friday at 11:00 a.m. before taking on Coppin State during the night cap at 7:00 p.m. Duquesne will conclude the tournament with a match against Robert Morris on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

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