Purdue Northwest Drops Match to Davenport (Mich.) in Three Sets
Westville, Ind. – Despite team-bests of six kills and nine assists by sophomore Brooke Ahrens (Covington, Ind./Covington), the Purdue University Northwest volleyball team fell in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play Thursday evening to visiting Davenport University (Mich.) at H.D. Kesling Gymnasium in the James B. Dworkin Student Services & Activities Complex in Westville, Ind. The Pride lost the match in three sets by scores of 25-14, 25-17 and 25-15.
Senior Kayla Elsea (Palmyra, Ind./Crawford County) added five kills while junior Carissa Jones (Whiting, Ind./Bishop Noll) and freshman Serene Jones (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport Township) recorded four kills apiece for PNW. Senior Gabrielle Martin (DeMotte, Ind./Kankakee Valley) and junior Kylie Tincher (Sellersburg, Ind./Rock Creek Academy) each posted 10 digs for the Black and Gold. Sophomore Eudora Negri (Munster, Ind./Munster) racked up 15 assists and three digs.
In the opening set, the Panthers got off to a hot start jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead, but a pair of kills by Ahrens helped PNW erase the early deficit and tie the score, 3-3. However, DU built another lead and went ahead 16-9 following back-to-back kills by Ashley Vanderhurst. Two more kills by Ahrens helped the Pride trim the deficit to four, 17-13, but Davenport closed out the set with an 8-1 run to claim the set, 25-14.
Another fast start gave the Panthers an early 5-1 lead in the second set, but the Black and Gold fought back thanks in part to a pair of kills by Elsea to tie the game, 6-6. The set remained tight with a kill by junior Jenni Pasko (Lansing, Ill./TF-South) putting the Pride within a point, 15-14. Unfortunately for PNW, DU finished the set strong again closing on a 10-3 run to win 25-17.
The Pride fell behind 8-2 early in the third set, but kills by Elsea and Jones helped cut into the deficit with the score, 10-5. An ace by Serene Jones kept PNW within five at 16-11. That was as close as it would get the rest of the way as the Panthers pulled away late for good, securing the match 25-15.
Purdue Northwest (6-21 overall/1-11 GLIAC) returns to action on Friday, November 3, with another GLIAC home match against the Ashland University Eagles. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. CT start at H.D. Kesling Gymnasium in the Dworkin Complex in Westville.