University of Dayton Athletics

FAIRBORN, Ohio – The University of Dayton volleyball team battled with RV Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon, coming out on top in five sets (25-15, 19-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-10).

The Flyers came out with energy early in the opening frame, starting the match on a 5-1 run with a kill from Gabriela Machin Borges, a pair of kills from Sidney Sprada and an ace from Kamryn Hunt. After Dayton took a timeout at 11-6, the Flyers were relentless with a six-point run. During the run, Abigail Cresse recorded a pair of block assists: one with Hunt and one with Charlotte Vinson. The Flyers took a comfortable 11-point lead four times in the set, earning the 1-0 set lead.

Set two started close with four tie scores heading into the technical timeout. After the set was tied at 16 apiece, the Hilltoppers began to pull away, taking a 21-17 lead to force the Dayton timeout. The Flyers offense ran through Hunt, tallying UD's last two points of the set with Western Kentucky tying the match.

 Trailing 9-8 in the third set, Dayton went on an eight-point run, swinging the set in the Flyers' favor. In addition to capitalizing on three errors by Western Kentucky, Vinson was formidable at the net, getting two block assists with Cresse and a solo. After the Flyers took a timeout at 23-19, a Western Kentucky service error and a block for Cresse and Vinson gave Dayton back the set advantage.

After Dayton knotted the fourth set up at six apiece, Western Kentucky stayed in front with the Flyers close behind. Sprada's six kills and Vinson's one and a half blocks kept Dayton in the fourth set, but the Hilltoppers were able to maintain their lead to force a fifth set.

Dayton struck first through the fifth set, with the Hilltoppers quick to tie the set. Kills from Machin Borges, Sprada and Hunt allowed the Flyers to pull ahead 11-8, going up by four with a Western Kentucky attack error. The Toppers moved back within striking distance at 12-10, but a kill from Machin Borges and an ace from Morgan Asleson brought up match point. Cresse flew from the middle to win the match.

BY THE NUMBERS
17 – Kills for Kamryn Hunt to lead the Flyers

22 – Assists for Rylee Sloss, followed by Natalie Harrington with 20

3 – Aces for Harrington, contributing to the Flyers' eight service aces

7 – Block assists for Abigail Cresse, the most for Dayton

5 – Total blocks for Charlotte Vinson with two solo blocks and six block assists

11.5 – Total team blocks for the Flyers, outblocking Western Kentucky 11.5-8

7 – Tie scores in the fifth set

UP NEXT
The weekend will conclude with a match against Wright State on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m.