HAMMOND, Ind. — Davenport capped an undefeated opening weekend of GLIAC play with a straight-set victory over Purdue Northwest on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers defeated the Lions 25-16, 25-19 and 25-22, pushing their winning streak to eight matches and improving to 8-1 overall.
DU paired an efficient attack with a strong performance from the service line, recording 44 kills and nine aces while hitting .272. The Panthers also kept the PNW offense in check, limiting the Lions to 25 kills and a .099 hitting percentage.
After PNW scored the first point of the match,
Abby Alan stepped to the service line and helped Davenport score seven straight. Alan registered two aces during the run, while Savannah Weathers and
Jaide Wirth added kills.
Amelia Werner took over later in the frame, putting down three kills as the Panthers stretched their advantage to 13-6. Davenport never allowed the Lions back into the set, and Alan provided the final point with a kill from
Madison Berry to finish the 25-16 win.
The Panthers had to work from behind early in the second, trailing 5-2 before kills from Wirth, Weathers and Werner helped erase the deficit. Werner's service ace later moved DU in front, 9-8.
With the Panthers trailing 11-10, Alan again sparked a decisive run from the service line. Davenport scored six unanswered points, highlighted by an Alan ace and a
Mariya Montgomery kill from Kierra Dommer, to build a 16-11 advantage. The Lions came no closer than three points afterward, and Montgomery closed the set with another kill from Dommer for a 25-19 victory.
PNW produced its strongest push of the match in the third set. After Davenport took a 15-13 lead on Berry's ace, the Lions answered and eventually moved ahead 19-17.
The Panthers responded with four consecutive points at a pivotal moment. Alan began the run with a kill before two PNW attack errors and a block by Wirth and Montgomery placed DU back in front, 21-19.
The Lions pulled within 21-20, but the Panthers ended the match at the net. Alan and Weathers each recorded a kill before Wirth put down the final two, completing the 25-22 win and Davenport's second GLIAC victory in as many days.
Wirth led the Panthers with 13 kills on a .524 hitting percentage and added two blocks. Alan contributed six kills, a match-high five aces and seven digs, while Dommer finished with 22 assists, seven digs and an ace.
Hayley Carr led the back row with 13 digs and added three assists.
Up Next
Davenport continues GLIAC play on Friday, Sept. 18, traveling to Marquette, Michigan, to face Northern Michigan at 6 p.m. ET.
