GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Panthers had their home-opener against Saint Xavier University (Ill.) and swept the Cougars 3-0. Saint Xavier game into the match with the better record of the two teams, but Davenport proved early why they are the more dominant squad. Davenport had a solid home crowd to show off the new team and gave Panther fans something to look forward to for the 2018 season.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Davenport 3, Saint Xavier 0
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Records: Davenport 2-3, Xavier 3-2
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-SET SCORES: 25-19, 25-21, 25-13
-The Cougars put up a fight towards the beginning of the match. The first set was tied 9-9 and then the Panthers turned a corner. Davenport scored nine of the following 12 points to take an 18-12 lead. During the run freshman Hayley Kreiger had two kills and a block assist. The Panthers held their lead for the rest of the set for the 25-19 win.
-The second set saw the Panthers win, but the Cougars pushed late to make things interesting. The set was tied 20-20 following a kill by the Cougars. Immediately following the kill, Davenport scored five out of the last six points to build up a 2-0 set lead.
-The Panthers rolled over the Cougars in the third set. Davenport had a 10-point run in the middle of the set to create a large lead over Saint Xavier. The Panthers then rallied five straight points at the end to win the set 25-13.


 
STAT LEADERS
Kills-Jenn Kay Vander Meer (11)
Aces-Sami White/Kasey Stehouwer (1)
Blocks-Ashley VanderHorst (4)
Assists-White (19)
Digs-Stehouwer (16)
 
COACHES CORNER
"It was great to be able to play in front of our home crowd tonight" stated Head Coach Megan Lenhart. "The team has worked really hard this preseason and it always feels good to see that effort pay off at home. We hope to carry this momentum into this weekend."
 
UP NEXT
Davenport travels to Louisville, Ky. this weekend to compete in the Bellarmine Kickoff Classic. The Panthers will play the University of West Alabama and California (Pa.) on Friday and then West Virginia Wesleyan and Bellarmine on Saturday.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Alexis Hoffman