Despite junior outside hitter Ellen Hayes' 16 kills, the DePaul volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (30-24, 28-30, 30-26, 30-18) match to Valparaiso. Hayes was named to the All-Tournament team after registering 60 kills and 61 digs over the weekend.
Valparaiso 3, DePaul 1
CHICAGO- Despite junior outside hitter Ellen Hayes' 16 kills, the DePaul volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (30-24, 28-30, 30-26, 30-18) match to Valparaiso Saturday evening at the DePaul Athletic Center. The Crusaders finished the Blue Demon Invitational unbeaten and improved to 5-1 on the season while DePaul falls to 1-4.
Valparaiso came out swinging in game one compiling a .471 attack percentage and 19 kills. DePaul matched the Crusaders 19 kills but were less accurate, recording seven errors to Valparaiso's three. Up 13-12, the Crusaders put together an 8-4 run to steal the Blue Demon momentum and eventually game one.
DePaul used smart offense and capitalized on 15 Crusader errors to shut down Valparaiso in game two. Senior Mandy Moorberg engineered the Blue Demon offense with five kills, while Ellen Hayes and Aly Zavitz each recorded four kills. DePaul won game two 30-28.
The Blue Demons out hit Valparaiso in game three, 18 to 15 kills but timely errors and Crusader kills thwarted DePaul's offensive efforts. The Blue Demons led from the beginning of game but stalled at 14 and allowed Valparaiso to string together a 4-0 run and take a 16-14 lead. The Crusaders did not relinquish the lead and won game three 30-26.
Valparaiso clamed the match with a 30-18 victory in game four.
The Crusader's Amy Palash lead all players with 17 kills and a .375 attack percentage, while setter Katie Bova and Blue Demons Invitational MVP, registered 47 assists, seven kills and 14 digs.
Defensively, Hayes led the Blue Demons with 13 digs, while freshman Mandi Caputo served up 42 assists, four kills and nine digs.
"I was really impressed with our freshman this weekend, they showed no fear and really contributed both offensively and defensively," head coach Dawn Dockstader said. "With every match they are getting better and I am excited to see them develop into great players."
Caputo finished the weekend with 195 assists, while middle blocker Jordan Ball led the Blue Demons with a .294 (24-9-51) attack percentage. Both also recorded seven total blocks.
The Blue Demons will host the Chicagoland Classic next weekend, welcoming Illinois-Chicago, Loyola and Northwestern to the DePaul Athletic Center for city bragging rights. The tournament will run Friday and Saturday September 9-10. DePaul will open the tournament on Friday, facing Illinois-Chicago at 7:00 p.m.
Blue Demon Invitational All-Tournament Team
Most Valuable Player
Katie Bova, Valparaiso
Most Valuable Libero
Heidi Hammond, Valparaiso
All Tournament Team
Jaye Schuler, Belmont
Shakeila Castile-Jones, Chicago State
Ellen Hayes, DePaul
Julie Walroth, Evansville
Liz Mikos, Valparaiso
Final Tournament Standings
Valparaiso, 4-0
Belmont 3-1
Evansville 2-2
DePaul 1-3
Chicago State 0-4
