Purdue Fort Wayne
Eastern Michigan
Mastodons Run Past Eastern Michigan 3-0
9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN - For the fourth time in as many years, the IPFW Mastodons have toppled the young Eastern Michigan University Eagles, and for the second straight years it was by 3-0 scores, as this season it was 25-23, 25-15, 25-10 on Tuesday evening at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center.
The young Eagles - 8-of-11 players in the match were freshmen or sophomores - put up a fight in the first set, but the strong IPFW offense and serve took over in the second and third for the lopsided Mastodon win. Early in the first set, IPFW senior libero Jamie Schwartz became IPFW's sixth member of the 1,000-dig club in the current rally-scoring era, and the 12th all-time member of the club.
The balanced IPFW attack was led by Rebekah Roehm, who had nine kills and three blocks, while Maya Schlindwein had eight kills and two service aces. Junior middle hitter Taryn Parker served up a career-high four aces, as the `Dons out-aced Eastern Michigan 8-to-1 in the contest, and out-blocked the squad 7-to-3.
The Mastodons trailed only briefly in the opening set - three times total and each time by one point - with the latest of those coming at 13-12. IPFW quickly responded, scoring five straight points, including back-to-back blocks, putting IPFW ahead 17-14. The Eagles would not give up, and despite trailing by five at 22-17, and again by five during IPFW's first set point at 24-19, the visitors fought back, scoring four straight points to climb to within one at 24-23 and looked to have the momentum until freshman Jen Krumwiede slammed home a kill from setter Shannon Reuter, giving IPFW the 25-23 first-set win.
The Eagles were the first to strike in the second set on an IPFW service error, but the Mastodons answered back with six straight points to push ahead 6-1. The feisty EMU team fought back, closing to within one at 6-5 until IPFW once again went on a run, this time 6-0 to lead 11-6. IPFW kept their foot on the gas pedal over the rest of the set, including scoring three straight service aces from Parker, to send the Eagles into the second-set break after the 25-15 Mastodon win in the frame.
IPFW made quick work of Eastern Michigan in the third set, as the Mastodons needed just a rotation and a half to earn the 25-10 third-set win. IPFW used a pair of 5-0 and two more 3-0 runs in the set to claim the victory on the evening.
Megan Steenhuysen dished out 24 assists for the `Dons, as Schlindwein added two service aces, the fourth time in her five matches this season she has had two or more services aces in a match. Schwartz' 10 digs was highest on the squad, with Steenhuysen digging up nine and Tessa McGill seven. Two players, Roehm and Parker, each had three blocks, with Alli Hook chipping in a pair in the winning effort.
Rachel Iaquaniello produced a match-high 10 kills for EMU, with Ashley Mason dishing out 26 assists. Iaquaniello also added 10 digs for the double-double with Jennifer Swartz' three blocks earning team-highs in the category.
The Mastodons return to action on Friday evening, when they make the short trip south to Muncie, Indiana, where they will face off against the Cardinals of Ball State University at 7:30 PM at Worthen Arena on the Ball State campus. On Saturday, the `Dons face off against Louisville at 10:00 AM before ending the tournament, the Ball State Active Ankle Challenge, at 5:00 PM with a match against SIU-Edwardsville.
~Dons~
