Dayton, Ohio – The Duquesne volleyball team wrapped up its three-match road swing Tuesday night, dropping a 3-1 decision to Dayton in Atlantic 10 play inside the Frericks Center. With the loss, the Dukes fall to 12-4 (.750) overall and 3-2 in league action.
POINT OF EMPHASIS
Despite dropping the opening two sets, Duquesne battled back to capture the third frame, 25-21. The Dukes registered 16 kills while hitting an impressive .414 for the set. Duquesne jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, highlighted by a trio of kills from freshman
Simone Searles, a point from junior
Emersen Schrom and an ace from senior
Delaney McIntosh. Later in the set, senior
Jordan Robertson found the floor with a successful swing as the Dukes carried a 15-12 advantage into the media timeout. The two squads traded the next 10 points before a successful swing from Searles pushed the Duquesne lead to 22-19. Dayton's Kamryn Hunt responded with a kill, as both teams traded the next few points. Schrom then delivered a kill to give Duquesne set point and force a Dayton timeout. Sidney Sprada responded for the Flyers following the timeout, but Schrom put the finishing touches on the comeback with another kill, securing the set victory for the Dukes.
A SEE-SAW AFFAIR
The fourth set featured 19 ties and eight lead changes as the two squads continued to trade blows throughout the frame. Deadlocked at 10-10, the Flyers took a one-point advantage before a pair of Dayton miscues gave the Dukes a 12-11 lead. Dayton would carry a slim 15-14 advantage into the media timeout before extending its lead to 20-17 later in the set and forcing a Duquesne timeout. The Dukes responded out of the break, rattling off a 5-1 run to take a 22-21 lead. Stone sparked the run with a kill, followed by a point from Searles. After a Dayton point, Searles, Stone and Schrom each found the floor with successful swings to cap the run. The Flyers evened the score at 22-22 before a Stone kill and a Dayton miscue gave the Dukes set point. Unfortunately, Dayton found a rhythm down the stretch, closing the set on a 5-1 run to secure a 27-25 victory and end the match.
THREE-HEADED ATTACK
For the second straight contest, the Dukes had three players reach double figures in kills, led by
Simone Searles,
Emersen Schrom and
Londyn Stone. Searles recorded her fifth double-double of the season by tying her season-high with 21 kills and 13 digs while hitting an impressive .389 for the match. She also added 1.5 blocks, one ace and one assist. Her 21 kills marked her third 20-plus-kill performance of the season and her third such effort in the last four matches. Schrom finished with 18 kills and seven digs while adding two assists and one ace, while Stone rounded out the trio with 11 kills, seven digs and one ace. The trio combined for 50 of Duquesne's 54 kills while recording 27 digs collectively.
BY THE NUMBERS
Delaney McIntosh finished the night with 11 assists, two digs and one ace, while
Chloe Wilmot dished out 48 assists, collected five digs and registered two aces. The Flyers featured a pair of players in double figures in kills, led by Kamryn Hunt, who posted a team-high 16 kills and eight digs while hitting .412. Charlotte Vinson added 11 kills and 3.5 blocks while hitting .500 for the match. Dayton finished with 14.0 total blocks on the night, led by Abigail Cresse, who totaled seven blocks.
UP NEXT
Duquesne returns home Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10, welcoming Loyola Chicago to UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse for a pair of Atlantic 10 matches.
