GOLDEN, Colo. – Davenport continued the Oredigger Classic with matches against Palm Beach Atlantic and Lee University (Tenn.) on day two. The Sailfish of Palm Beach Atlantic are ranked number 12 in the nation and proved to be a tough challenge for the Panthers. Davenport lost the match against PBA 1-3. The Panthers had little rest after their match against PBA, having just over an hour before they faced Lee University. The little rest didn't matter to DU as they defeated the Flames 3-1 for their first victory of the young 2018 season.
 
MATCH 1 (Palm Beach Atlantic)
Final Score: Davenport 1, Palm Beach Atlantic 3
Location: Golden, Colo.
Records: Davenport 0-3, Palm Beach Atlantic 3-0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-SET SCORES: 19-25, 25-23, 19-25, 22-25
-Davenport went toe to toe with the Sailfish in the first set until the score reached 9-9. The Sailfish broke the tie and scored four straight points to take a 13-9 lead. Palm Beach Atlantic led by three or more points for the remainder of the set to take a 1-0 lead.
-The Panthers flipped a switch in the second set, scoring six unanswered points to start. The Sailfish fought back and tied the set 8-8. Davenport didn't have any big runs for the rest of the set, but scored points when it mattered most. With the score 20-18 in DU's favor the Panthers went on a three point run to take a commanding 23-18 lead. During that stretch Jessica Marvin and Charlie Smith recorded a kill. Palm beach Atlantic made a comeback late, scoring four straight to cut DU's lead down to 24-23. Ashley VanderHorst didn't mess around and finished the set with a kill to give Davenport their first set win this season.
-Palm Beach came back and took control in the third set, jumping out to a 10-5 lead. The Panthers got to within two points a couple times, but couldn't string enough points together to erase the Sailfish lead. Palm Beach scored the last two points of the set for the 25-19 win.
-Davenport gave the Sailfish a scare in the final set. The set was tied 21-21 after four consecutive points by the Panthers, which included three attacking errors by the Sailfish. Palm Beach scored four of the final five points to come away with the 25-22 set win and 3-1 match victory.
 
STAT LEADERS
Kills-Hayley Kreiger (12)
Aces-Jenna Asper (1)
Blocks-VanderHorst (7)
Assists-Sami White (21)
Digs-Kasey Stehouwer (16)
 
MATCH 2 (Lee University (Tenn.))
Final Score: Davenport 3, Lee University 1
Location: Golden, Colo.
Records: Davenport 1-3, Lee 0-4


 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-SET SCORES: 25-21, 22-25, 25-11, 25-12
-Davenport got off to a great start to their final match of the tournament. The Panthers secured a 25-21 set win to take their first lead of the season 1-0 over the Flames of Lee University.
-Lee responded with a win in set two to tie the match 1-1. The Flames didn't have it easy, as Davenport embarked on a comeback late in the set, falling just short. Davenport scored five of the final seven points.
-The momentum in the match shifted the Panthers way when they took an 18-7 lead in the third set. Davenport scored seven straight points to get the 18-7 lead and forced Lee to take a timeout during the stretch. The Panthers held the Flames to only one run of two or more points in the set and cruised to a 25-11 set win.
-The Panthers got another boost towards the middle of the set, with a five point run to take a 12-5 lead and then a four point run to take a 16-8 lead. The Panthers never let up in the fourth set, scoring the final four points to win the set 25-12. Seven different panthers recorded a kill in the fourth set, including freshman Riley Groves.
 
STAT LEADERS
Kills-Marvin (14)
Aces-Jenn Kay Vander Meer (1)
Blocks-VanderHorst (7)
Assists-Sydney Tracer (21)
Digs-Stehouwer (22)
 
UP NEXT
Davenport will host Saint Xavier University for their home-opener on Tuesday, August 28^th. The match will be played at 7 p.m. in the Davenport Student Center.

Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Devin Steiner