University of Dayton Athletics

PITTSBURGH – The University of Dayton volleyball team faltered in five sets against Duquesne at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on Tuesday evening (27-25, 27-25, 26-28, 16-25, 9-15).

Throughout the first set, Dayton took the lead with the Dukes close behind. Duquesne reached the first set point of the night, but senior Kamryn Hunt tied the set with Dayton earning set point on an attack error. After Duquesne tied the set again at 25, the Flyers won the first set on another kill for Hunt and a block assist for junior Corrie Anderson and freshman Ava Liening.

Dayton started the second set up 11-3, in large part from two four-point runs. In the second run, freshman Ava Liening posted back-to-back solo blocks. Later in the set, Duquesne went on a six-point run to again tie the set at 22-all. Kills for freshmen Natalie Harrington and Sidney Sprada helped the Flyers earn set point, but the Dukes retied the match at 24 and 25 points. Back-to-back kills for Hunt broke the tie, giving the Flyers the two-set lead.

Trailing 15-13, Dayton broke out on a five-point run in the third set on a pair of kills for Sprada, a kill for Anderson and a pair of DUQ errors for an 18-15 lead. The Dukes surged back throughout the third set, sending it to extra points and winning the set on a three-point run at 28-26.

Duquesne took an early 5-1 lead in set four, stringing together two three-point runs to take double-digit leads, including 19-8 late in the set. The Flyers had a late surge with a kill and a solo block for fifth-year Kaleigh Meritt, but the Dukes tied the match.

Dayton took advantage of errors by the Dukes for a 3-2 lead early in the fifth set. After the Flyers tied the set at 9-9 with kills from junior Abigail Cresse and Hunt, Duquesne opened up on a six-point run to win the match.

BY THE NUMBERS
21 – Kills for Sidney Sprada, eight more than her next teammate

1 – Ace for the Flyers from sophomore Morgan Asleson

3 – Solo blocks for Ava Liening, finishing with five total blocks

UP NEXT
Dayton heads to Fairfax, Va. to play George Mason on Oct. 30-31.