Volleyball takes Pair of Setbacks in 1st Day of SCAC cross-divisional at Schreiner

KERRVILLE, Texas – The University of Dallas volleyball team (12-16, 4-8 SCAC) fell in a two matches Saturday in the first day of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) cross-divisional hosted at Schreiner University. No. 4 Southwestern University prevailed in straight sets, and Texas Lutheran University (11-13, 4-8 SCAC) would split with UD on the season (1-1) in a 3-0 win later that day.

MATCH VS. NO. 4 SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

SET SCORES: L 3-0 | (25-18, 25-8, 25-10)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The fourth ranked Pirates according to the American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA), proved too difficult for Dallas on Saturday morning. In the opening set, the Crusaders fell behind 6-1, before a kill by Mary Scholz (Fallon, Nev.) halted the six straight point streak. Southwestern extended its advantage to 17-8, before UD made a push to close the gap.

Consecutive kills by Marin Guilfoyle (Roanoke, Va.) and Merit Paramo (Wasilla, Alaska) started what would eventually be an 8-3 run. However, the margin was too wide for Dallas to get closer than four (20-16).

The final two sets were easily taken by the Pirates, as they improved to 2-0 over UD this season.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

-Diana Hassink (Tulsa, Okla.) and Guilfoyle led the Crusaders with five kills apiece. Scholz added four.

- Elizabeth Smith (Broken Arrow, Okla.) dished 14 assists. Hassink posted a team-high seven digs as UD was outdone 45-26 in that category.

- Dallas did perform a .310 (12-29) kill percentage in the first frame.

- Southwestern University accumulated a .477 (50-86) kill percentage overall. This included a .721 (16-21) percent in the second.

- Two players notched double-digits in kills for SU with Piper Sisemore's leading 11 and Jamison Duck eclipsing with 10.   

- Nikki Welch compiled 41 assists.

MATCH VS. TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY

SET SCORES: L 3-0 | (18-25, 19-25, 25-27)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first set was back-and-forth with eight ties and five lead changes through the first 25 points (12-13). Texas Lutheran rattled off five points in a row in the midst of the last tie and lead switch at that juncture of the set. Dallas trailed the remainder of the way as TLU claimed an early advantage.

In the second set, it was a similar situation as the teams were evenly matched throughout until near the final stretch of points.

Dallas fought in the third set and tried to avoid falling in straight sets, but were nearly edged at the very end with extra points required to determine the outcome. A service ace by Annika Bijou ended the contest.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

- Scholz posted a team-high 14 kills in the game. That is the third occasion she has tied that amount this fall and is third highest on the campaign.

- Guilfoyle contributed the other double figure kills performance with 13.

- Smith notched 32 assists.

- Jessie Koster (Sherwood, Ore.) paced the UD defense with 21 digs. Hassink added 13 as the team accumulated 60 altogether.

- TLU's Kristin Fording boasted a game-high 20 kills and achieved a double-double with 19 digs.

- She was part of a quartet with at least 10 digs. Headlining that group was Mathis Popelsky (21) followed by Fording. Jaci Chambers (15) and Mackenzie Zamarripa (11) rounded out the unit.

- Chambers matched Smith with a game-high 32 assists on the sets.

UP NEXT

Dallas concludes conference play this regular season tomorrow with No. 18 Trinity University (10 a.m.) and Schreiner (4 p.m.)