DePaul University

IOWA CITY-- Despite a combined 30 kills by Sarah Cullen and Jacie Fiedler, the DePaul volleyball team fell to Tulsa 3-1 (25-20, 25-16, 20-25, 25-23) Friday at the Hawkeye/Holiday Inn Challenge at Iowa's Caver-Hawkeye Arena. The Blue Demons have lost their last four matches and fall to 1-8, while the Golden Hurricanes improve to 12-1.
Cullen, who led the Blue Demons with 20 kills and chipped in 12 digs, tallied her seventh double-double of the season. Fiedler finished with 10 kills and has registered double-digit kill totals in each of DePaul's nine matches this season.
Swinging well in the first stanza, Fiedler paced DePaul with four kills, but a slow start allowed Tulsa to win the set 25-20. The Blue Demons found themselves down 16-7, but a 13-5 run capped-off by a Cullen kill pulled DePaul within two at the 21-19 mark. After squandering their lead, the Golden Hurricanes rebounded and tallied four kills in the last five points to win the set.
The Blue Demons were unable to find their offense in the second set as they hit a dismal -.030 and tallied just 9 kills in the set. Tied at 13, DePaul was unable to terminate the ball and the Golden Hurricanes capitalized as they closed out the match on a 12-3 run. Tulsa hit .286 and tallied 13 kills in its 25-16 set two victory.
Down two sets, DePaul looked to senior Caitlin Callaghan and Cullen for leadership on the court. Callaghan began the stanza by serving for four consecutive points and never looked back as the Blue Demons won the third set 25-20. Cullen dominated the frame with six kills, while Callaghan chipped in five digs and two service aces.
Forcing a fourth set, the Blue Demons and Tulsa traded the lead three times, while the frame was tied an additional nine times. Tied a 22, two Golden Hurricane kills and an unforced DePaul error, allowed Tulsa to win the set 25-23 and take the match 3-1.
Jennifer Eichler led Tulsa with 13 kills while, Julia Kenealy and Beth Hodge each pitched in 11 kills. The Golden Hurricanes registered a .258 attack percentage for the match.
The Blue Demons return to the court on Saturday and face tournament host Iowa at 12:30 p.m. and close out the weekend with a 4:30 p.m. match against Portland.
Notes: Jacie Fiedler has registered double-digit kill totals in all nine Blue Demon matches... Fiedler has finished 24 career matches in double-digit kill totals... Sarah Cullen has seven double-doubles (kills-digs) this season... only two players (Kendall Maduzia and Ashley Graham) outside of the starting seven have entered a match off the bench for DePaul... the Blue Demons have dropped their last four matches... although 1-8, the team has only lost one match 3-0, while they have played five, four set and three, five set matches... DePaul lone win is a 3-2 win over James Madison on Sept. 6.