Purdue Fort Wayne
Valparaiso
IPFW Falls to Valparaiso in Four
8/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 30, 2008
Notre Dame, IN - Despite winning the first set in a best-of-five match, the IPFW Mastodons were unable to pull out the victory, falling to the Crusaders of Valparaiso University in four sets, 20-25, 27-25, 25-19 and 25-20.
Mayara Schlindwein picked up a team-high 15 kills, while freshman Ashley Dillon (12), Jessica Miller (11) and Rebekah Roehm (10) each picked up double-figure totals in the statistic. Roehm added 16 digs for the double-double, as Jessica Dominiak was one dig shy of her fifth consecutive assist/dig double double, totaling 46 helpers and nine digs.
The first set was a series of runs by both squads, starting with a 5-0 Valparaiso run early on, pushing the Crusaders to an 8-3 lead. IPFW answered, as they clawed their way back to tie the set at 11 apiece, behind a kill by Schlindwein and a combo block by Schlindwein and Roehm. Valpo would not keep the game tied for long, as they pushed ahead by four at 17-13. IPFW would close strong, scoring 12 of the final 15 points, including seven of the last eight, closing the set on a Valparaiso attack error.
The `Dons first-set statistical leader was Dillon, who had four kills and a block, while Schlindwein had a trio of kills, a service ace and a block assist. Roehm had two kills, but added four digs with Dominiak dishing out 11 helpers in the set.
After the second set was tied at four, IPFW went on a run, opening leads of 13-9 and 15-11 before the Crusaders went on a 6-1 run to open an 18-16 lead. IPFW would not led the Crusaders keep the momentum, as the `Dons fought back to take a 24-23 lead, and served twice for set point; however, Valparaiso fought back, ending the set on a kill and a combo block to send the teams into the break tied at one set apiece after the 27-25 set victory.
Miller came on strong in the second set, totaling six kills, with Schlindwein and Dillon each putting up three. Dominiak dished out 14 assists in the second set, giving her 25 for the match to that point, while Jamie Schwartz picked up a team-high four digs in the frame.
Set three saw Valparaiso go on a run in the middle of the set, turning a 10-9 lead into 19-14. The `Dons clawed back, closing the gap to three at 22-19 before the Crusaders scored the final three points to claim the 25-19 victory. Leading IPFW was Dillon, who had four kills, while Schlindwein and Roehm each had three. Dominiak once again dished out 11 assists, with Roehm picking up five digs, giving her 12 for the match.
The Crusaders started the fourth set with the momentum they gained from the third, starting the frame with a 6-2 run. Valpo used runs of 3-0 and 4-0 to push ahead to nine-point 13-4 advantage. Trailing by eight at 22-14, IPFW went on a run of their own, scoring six of the next seven points to cut the deficit to 23-20; however, back-to-back kills by Valparaiso's Angie Porché ended the hope of a comeback for the `Dons.
Roehm had a team-high four service aces, while totaling three blocks, also a team-high. Three players, Dillon, Dominiak and Jamie Schwartz each missed double-figure digs by just one, with Christine Simon adding eight. Valparaiso was led by Porché who had 18 kills, four service aces and 15 digs, all team-highs. Allison Sears added 14 kills, with Brittany Malicoat and Val Bollenbacher had 14 and 12 digs, respectively.
The `Dons next take to the court on Sunday, August 31 when they take on Nevada starting at noon in South Bend.
~Dons~
