Aug. 29, 2009

Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score

DEARBORN, Mich. - The Panthers Volleyball team came back to Grand Rapids with a second straight split at the UM Dearborn Early Bird on Saturday. DU defeated Illinois Tech in straight sets before falling to Bethel in their final match. The Panthers are 2-2 on the year with a non-conference match with Ferris State set for September.

The opening match of the day was very one-sided as DU took all three sets from Illinois Tech (25-17, 25-17, 25-21). The Panthers tallied 37 kills in the match led by Kassie Graves' (White Cloud, Mich.) 10.  Ashley Penny (New Hudson, Mich.) and Joyce Larioza (Fowlerville, Mich.) chipped in seven and six kills respectively.

In the second match of the day against Bethel, DU got off to a fast start with an opening set 25-21 victory. The two teams would then put on a show for the final three sets, but DU came out on the losing end by two points (26-24) in each as the Pilots escaped with the win.

Graves and Larioza once again led the offense with 12 and 10 kills as Kayla Vandermolen (Cedar Springs, Mich.) dished out 44 assists and Courtney DePriest (Grand Rapids, Mich.) led the team with 26 digs.

DU now stands at 2-2 on the year and will travel to Big Rapids on September 9 to take on NCAA D2 Ferris State.