Oct. 2, 2009

Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport Volleyball team celebrated homecoming with their own match today but the visiting Maple Leafs of Goshen College prevailed in a five set thriller. After winning the first set 25-16, DU lost three of the next four (20-25, 25-23, 19-25, 16-18).

In a rare mid-afternoon contest, the Panthers fell victim to the powerful attack of Maple Leaf player Peni Acayo as she led her team with 28 kills in route to the 5-set win.

Davenport got up early and cruised in the first set winning 25-16, before falling behind considerably in the second only to battle back and make things interesting. Goshen hung tough though and pulled out the set 25-20 to tie the match.

Set three proved to be the best of the night as the Panthers held off a late charge from the Maple Leafs to win 25-23 but again failed to start strong in the 4th set and Goshen forced a deciding set with the 25-19 win.

After Goshen made the side-switch with a commanding 8-1 lead, it looked as if the Panthers had nothing left and even trailed 14-8. But behind the serving of Samantha Mol (Lowell, Mich.) and attacking of Kassie Graves (White Cloud, Mich.), DU fought back to tie the match but then Goshen turned back to Acayo for an 18-16 win.

Kassie Graves, Joyce Larioza (Fowlerville, Mich.) and Amy VanEns (Lowell, Mich.) led the Panthers with 22, 13 and 12 kills respectively and Kayla Vandermolen (Cedar Springs, Mich.) dished out 49 assists in the loss.

The defeat drops DU to 9-9 on the year as they will host Cornerstone University on Tuesday at 7:00 PM. That match will also be aired on the Davenport Athletics Network.