GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport University women's volleyball team protected its home court Friday, opening the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Classic with victories over Seton Hill and Northwood. The Panthers swept the Griffins 3-0 in the afternoon before defeating the Timberwolves 3-1 in the nightcap.
Abby Alan led the way with 26 kills, seven aces and 20 digs across the two matches.
Madison Berry recorded a double-double in both victories, totaling 37 assists and 25 digs, while
Karley Pretzer added 20 kills on the day.
Match One vs. Seton Hill
Result: W, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-14)
How it Happened
Davenport held off a Seton Hill push in the opening set after the Griffins trimmed the lead to 13-12. Alan responded with three kills down the stretch, helping DU close out a 25-18 victory.
The Griffins grabbed the early advantage in the second, building a 9-5 lead. The Panthers answered with six straight points, highlighted by a pair of blocks involving Mariya Montgomery and Livi Overbeek. Seton Hill later tied the score at 19, but DU stayed composed, and Jaide Wirth delivered the set-clinching kill for a 25-23 win.
Davenport broke open the third set with seven of the next eight points, turning a 13-8 advantage into a 20-9 lead. Alan landed consecutive aces during the run before Montgomery completed the sweep with a kill, securing the 25-14 victory.
Alan paced DU with eight kills, three aces and seven digs. Montgomery added five kills on nine swings for a .556 hitting percentage and four total blocks. Berry recorded 16 assists and 15 digs, while Hayley Carr collected 13 digs.
Match Two vs. Northwood
Result: W, 3-1 (25-14, 25-22, 27-29, 25-17)
How it Happened
The Panthers carried their strong play into the nightcap, claiming seven of the first eight points and cruising to a 25-14 opening-set victory. Pretzer led the early attack with five kills.
DU jumped ahead again in the second and held a 23-18 advantage before Northwood made a late push. With the margin down to one, Alan ended the run with a kill before Wirth and Montgomery combined for the set-clinching block in a 25-22 win.
Northwood led 22-19 in the third, but two kills from Amelia Werner and three consecutive aces moved Davenport in front, 24-23. DU earned three opportunities to close out the match, but the Timberwolves fought off each one and claimed the final three rallies for a 29-27 victory.
The setback did little to slow the Panthers. Davenport pulled away from a 16-12 lead in the fourth and never allowed Northwood back into the set. Wirth brought DU to match point before Alan put away the final kill of the 25-17 win.
Davenport totaled 52 kills and 13 aces while hitting .252 and limiting Northwood to a .112 hitting percentage. Alan led the way with 18 kills on a .410 clip, four aces and 13 digs. Pretzer added 15 kills while hitting .344, while Werner contributed eight kills and a match-high seven blocks. Berry finished with 21 assists and 10 digs.
Up Next
Davenport will close out the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Classic with two matches Saturday. The Panthers will face Slippery Rock at noon before taking on Cedarville at 4 p.m.
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