AURORA, Ill. – The women's volleyball team competed in day one of the Midwest Region Crossover Tournament against two really good teams. Davenport took on Walsh University and Bellarmine University for their two matches. The two opponents had a combined record of 29-8 coming into the day. The Panthers won one set during both matches but couldn't get the runs late during sets to win multiple sets in a match. Krissy Dill became the school's all-time leader in kills during the match against Walsh.
 
MATCH 1 (WALSH)
Final Score: Davenport 1, Walsh 3
Location: Aurora, Ill.
Records: Davenport 9-9, Walsh 15-4
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-SET SCORES: 25-20, 20-25, 23-25, 19-25
-Davenport started this match off strong, scoring the opening four points of the set. Sydney Tracer had two service aces during the run and Walsh had two errors. Another four point run in the middle of the set, including kills from Jessica Marvin and Carly Nichols, helped give DU a 10-4 lead. Following a timeout by Davenport the Panthers scored 10 of the last 15 points to win the first set of the match. Jenn Kay Vander Meer served for the set winning point.
-Walsh flipped a switch in the second set, quickly building up a big lead. Davenport was down 5-16 before they made their first run of the set. After an attack error by Walsh DU was still down 9-16. The Panthers had a couple small runs down the stretch, but the early lead by Walsh held strong down the stretch.
-Again, Walsh got out to a strong start, leading 10-4 before head coach Megan Lenhart took a timeout. The Panthers responded nicely coming out of the timeout, scoring five straight points to cut the lead down to one point. The teams swapped leads for a while until the set was tied at 20-20. Walsh won five of the last eight points to take the two-point set win.
-Walsh had 11 different multiple point runs during the final set, never giving DU a chance to erase the deficit they were facing. Davenport fought up until the end, but couldn't string enough points together to force a fifth set.
 
INTERESTING FACTS
Senior Dill made history during the match against Walsh University. She broke the Davenport women's volleyball program record for most career kills. The record breaking kill was in the third set and tied the set at 23-23. Marcey DeHaan was the previous record holder at 1,389 career kills and Dill now sits at 1,402 kills over her illustrious four years at Davenport.


 
STAT LEADERS
Kills-Dill/Vander Meer/ Ashley VanderHorst (8)
Aces-Tracer (3)
Blocks-Marvin (6)
Assists-Gabie Shellenbarger (19)
Digs-Dill (12)
 
MATCH 2 (BELLARMINE)
Final Score: Davenport 1, Bellarmine 3
Location: Aurora, Ill.
Records: Davenport 9-10, Bellarmine 16-4
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-SET SCORES: 26-28, 17-25, 25-20, 17-25
-During set one a four point run and a couple three point runs by Bellarmine created an uphill battled for DU. The Panthers fought back and had a chance late in the set to win up 26-25, Bellarmine won the following point and then two more to snag the first set.
-Davenport hung in with the Knights for a majority of the set, up until Bellarmine scored eight un-answered points. Bellarmine scored the last two points shortly after the run to take set two.
-The Panthers bounced back in the third set with their backs against the wall. After a kill by Vander Meer DU led 11-6. Davenport did a nice job of eliminating the opportunity for Bellarmine to gain momentum during the set. The Knights only had one run of three or more points during the set. Dill recorded the set winning kill and was assisted by Shellenbarger.
-Bellarmine came back in the final set and had another long run that shifted momentum their way. The Knights had a six point run to take a 14-7 lead during the middle of the set. Following that run DU only had one multiple point run of their own down the stretch.
 
STAT LEADERS
Kills-Marvin (14)
Aces-Tracer (4)
Blocks-Marvin (5)
Assists-Tracer (22)
Digs-Kasey Stehouwer (15)
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Alexis Hoffman