Site: Livonia, Mich. (Activities Center)
Score: #4 Madonna 3, #24 Davenport 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-20)
Records: MU (26-0, 6-0 WHAC), DU (16-7, 5-1 WHAC)
Next DU event: Friday, Oct. 11 – vs. Rochester 
 
LIVONIA, Mich. – In a Top-25 showdown on Wednesday night, the host Crusaders closed out the Panthers in straight sets to improve to 26-0 on the season while Davenport falls to 16-7. Madonna, ranked No. 4 in the country, defeated No. 24 DU by the scores of 25-22, 25-21, 25-20. The Panthers will return to action on Friday at their own Panther Invitational when they get the weekend started at 1 p.m. against Rochester College.

In a match that would go a long way in deciding the regular season WHAC champion, the reigning champs proved to be too much as Madonna posted a 3-0 win to keep their perfect record in-tact. Freshman Olivia DenHartigh led the way for the Panthers with a double-double of 14 kills and 11 digs while junior Amber Getty controlled the offense with 33 assists.

The opening set was back and forth with neither team holding more than a 2-point edge but the Crusaders took control after a 6-2 spurt broke a 16-16 tie and went on to claim the 25-22 win. That momentum carried into the second as MU raced out to a quick 6-2 lead and built it up to 13-4 but the Panthers clawed back in and a Marcey DeHaan kill brought the lead down to just four (18-14). After an ace by Lexie Spetoskey narrowed the gap to three, DU was unable to get any closer as MU took a commanding 2-0 lead with the 25-21 win.

Fighting for their lives in the third, DU dug themselves a big hole falling behind 19-9 and although they did rally to make it 24-20, it was too little, too late as Madonna ended the match on a kill from Kayla Vogel.

The Crusaders were paced by 17 kills from reigning WHAC Player of the Week Emilie Freeman.

Davenport, still second in the WHAC at 5-1, will now host the Panther Invitational on Friday and Saturday. DU will welcome in six other teams from around the region and will take on Rochester (1 p.m.) and Huntington (5 p.m.) on Friday and follow with Grace (Noon) and Ashford (4 p.m.) on Saturday.

Post-Match Notes
Olivia DenHartigh now has eight consecutive matches with double-digit kills and has added three double-doubles during that time with digs…The loss drops Davenport to 4-5 vs. Top-25 or receiving votes teams this season…Madonna is now 17-1 all-time against the Panthers

Volleyball Contact: Aaron Sagraves | 616-554-5045 | asagraves@davenport.edu
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