Volleyball knocks off DePaul in Five-Set Battle

Wednesday, September 25

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

Xavier University

4-7

DePaul

8-5

Xavier

DePaul

Photo by: Rooted Media House

Volleyball knocks off DePaul in Five-Set Battle

09.25.19 | Volleyball

Box Score

Xavier begins BIG EAST play with a victory

By: By Mark Leopold, Xavier Athletics Communications

CHICAGO, Ill. - Volleyball won their first match of BIG EAST play on the road against DePaul in a very tight five-set match. The Musketeers claimed victory by a final score of 25-23, 22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 16-14.

• Xavier's next match comes at home against Marquette on October 2, before they hit the road again and face Villanova and Georgetown on October 4-5.

Highlights

• Xavier set numerous personal season-highs in tonight's match:
MaryAnn O'Toole - Kills (12), Points (15), Solo Blocks (2)
Ellie Chaffee - Digs (4), Blocks (tied-5)
Jayda Carlton - Solo blocks (4)
Norah Painter - Kills (15), Points (14)

• Madi Kutruff put up another great defensive performance as the Libero, as she tallied 25 digs, one shy of Xavier's season-high 26 total that she set in her last match against Bowling Green.

• Junior setter Ailsa Watson also had a terrific night, coming up just two assist shy of her season-high. She racked up 32 helpers to aide Xavier's huge victory.

Summary

• DePaul started the match on a 5-1 run, but Xavier answered with a 3-0 run to keep the score close. In what what prove to be the theme of the match, the set stayed pretty even all the way until Xavier finally tied the score at 21. The Musketeers took their first lead at 23-22, and hung on to win 25-23.

• Set Two began with a 3-0 run for Xavier, but DePaul quickly evened the score at 3-3. Still, the score remained close as neither team gathered more than a two-point lead until Xavier broke out to a 17-13 advantage. The lead grew to as much as five. DePaul had a mini run to get the score within two at 20-18, and continued to press late as a 7-0 run gave DePaul the set at 25-22.

• DePaul kept the momentum rolling in Set Three as they won the first two points and would lead 8-3 early after a 5-0 run. The Blue Demons pulled away by as much as five a few times, but Xavier hung tough to stay within striking distance. However, DePaul was able to counter a Xavier comeback attempt with a 3-0 run to lead 21-15 and ultimately take the set 25-20.

• Set Four began back-and-forth as the teams traded points all the way until DePaul took an 11-9 lead, but Xavier tied the score at 13 a piece. They resumed trading points until Xavier took a 21-16 advantage following a huge 5-0 run. DePaul didn't say die, and they rattled off five points in a row to tie the score again at 21. Undiscouraged, Xavier would win the set 25-23.

• DePaul won the first point in Set Five, but Xavier forced the Blue Demons to spend a timeout after a 4-0 run. The teams switched sides with Xavier out to an 8-3 lead, their largest of the match. DePaul fought back to bring the score back to 11-9, and fought off four match points to tie the score at 14. That would be their last point, as Xavier clinched Set Five 16-14.

Up Next

• Xavier's next match comes at home against Marquette on October 2, before they hit the road again and face Villanova and Georgetown on October 4-5.