Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS

Walter Cronk

Women's Volleyball 9/7/2024 7:49:00 PM Justice Steiner, Manager of Athletic Communications

Panthers Conclude Opening Weekend at Ray Thrasher Classic

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Davenport University volleyball team completed its opening weekend on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Ray Thrasher Classic. On day two of the tournament, the Panthers (1-3, 0-0 GLIAC) fell to Quincy and Alabama Huntsville at the Trojan Fieldhouse in Nashville, Tenn.

Match One vs. #RV Quincy
Result: L, 3-0 (12-25, 18-56, 17-25)
How it Happened
Matching up against a Hawk squad that is receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Division II Coaches Poll, the Panthers kept it close in the early stages of the first set. DU put together a 4-1 rally which was capped by a kill from Kaitlin Jordan off an assist from Savannah Hall to pull the Panthers within two (10-8). However, QU ended the set on a staggering 11-2 run and took the first set from DU, 25-12.

Davenport started the second set on a 5-3 run to take the early advantage. The Hawks answered with five straight points before a Jordan kill put a halt to their run, setting the score at 8-6 in favor of QU. A kill from Kaitlyn Marsh helped propel DU to a quick 5-2 run, tying the set at 12 apiece. Trailing by two points (17-15) late, the Panthers gave up an 8-3 rally to the Hawks, falling in the second set 25-18.

Trailing 20-14 in the third set, Abby Alan slammed back-to-back kills, both coming off assists from Mehl Hansen, which trimmed the DU deficit to four (20-16). However, the Hawks put together a rally to end the set, out-scoring the Panthers 5-1 from that point on, getting the 25-17 victory and sweeping DU.

As a team, the Panthers finished the match with 39 kills while also recording seven blocks as opposed to the Hawks' five blocks.

Freshman Rachel Youngblood led the attack offensively for Davenport, tallying a team-high eight kills while hitting .259 in the loss. Alan chipped in with six kills for the Panthers, while Marsh chipped in with four kills. Hall dished out a team-high 11 assists while Hansen finished with 10 assists. Defensively, Hayley Carr registered a team-high 13 digs for Davenport.

Match Two vs. Alabama Huntsville
Result: L, 3-1 (15-25, 20-25, -18, 23-25)
How it Happened
With a back-and-forth start, the match was tied 11-11 to start the first set. During that stretch, Youngblood led the way for the Panthers with four kills. However, the Chargers began to pull away and finished the set on a 14-4 rally to take a 1-0 lead in the match following the 25-15 victory in set one.

The Panthers bounced back in the early stages of the second set, taking a 7-3 advantage over UAH, with Youngblood and Emma Turnquist each notching one kill to help give DU the lead. Alabama Huntsville came back to tie the set at 15 apiece before a Turnquist kill spurred a quick 3-1 run, as the Panthers held a slim two-point advantage (18-16). However, the Chargers out-scored Davenport 9-2 to close out the set, winning 25-20 and taking a 2-0 lead in the match.

In the third set, DU picked up its first victory of the day, taking down UAH 25-18, and controlling the majority of the set. An 8-2 rally early on, which featured three kills from Alan, put the Panthers on top 8-3. After the Chargers eventually pulled within one point (10-9), the Panthers went on a scorching 14-5 rally, giving them a double-digit advantage (24-14). Moments later, a kill from Hansen ended the set and the Panthers avoided the sweep.

Late in the fourth and final set, the Panthers found themselves down 21-15, before putting together a 4-0 rally to trim the deficit to two (21-19). Moments later, Alan slammed two kills in a 3-1 run for DU as they trailed by one with match point on the line (24-23). The match ended on the ensuing play off an attack error by the Panthers and UAH took the final set 25-23.

Youngblood shined again in the opening weekend, as the true freshman notched a double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs. Alan recorded 15 kills and two total blocks, while Turquist chipped in with six kills. Hansen ended the match with a team-high 22 assists for Davenport. Defensively, Carr tallied a team-high 18 digs.

Up Next
DU will return home to continue non-conference action, as they are set to co-host the 2024 Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic next weekend (Sept. 12-14) at the Davenport Student Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Abby Alan: OH/RS; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#1 Savannah Hall: S; 5' 9"; Senior

#8 Kaitlin Jordan: MB; 6' 1"; Junior

#16 Emma Turnquist: OH/RS; 6' 2"; Senior

#7 Mehl Hansen: S; 5' 9"; Junior

#11 Hayley Carr: DS; 5' 7"; Freshman

#14 Rachel Youngblood: OH/RS; 6' 1"; Freshman

#20 Kaitlyn Marsh: MB; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#21 Abby Alan
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH/RS

#1 Savannah Hall
: 5' 9"; Senior
: S

#8 Kaitlin Jordan
: 6' 1"; Junior
: MB

#16 Emma Turnquist
: 6' 2"; Senior
: OH/RS

#7 Mehl Hansen
: 5' 9"; Junior
: S

#11 Hayley Carr
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: DS

#14 Rachel Youngblood
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OH/RS

#20 Kaitlyn Marsh
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: MB