Volleyball 08-09

Morgan Sturgeon led DU with 10 kills against Wooster on Saturday.

The improvement over the last month has been evident when it comes to the Denison volleyball team. The squad, made up of 13 first-year players and only four seniors and juniors continued to make great strides on Saturday afternoon, falling just shy of upset victories over Wooster and Capital from Livingston Gymnasium in Granville.

In the opening match of the day, the Big Red took the Fighting Scots to the wire, falling in five sets, 3-2 (11-25, 25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 12-15).  In the afternoon match against Capital the Crusaders prevailed in four sets, 3-1 (19-25, 25-18, 19-25, 20-25).

Against Wooster Denison was led by first-year Morgan Sturgeon (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) who posted 10 kills.  Ali Trotter (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) and Claire Knoeval (Solon, Ohio/Solon) combined for 48 assists and Holly Leonard contributed 22 digs.  Freshman Megan Early (Findlay, Ohio/Van Buren) also chipped in with three blocks.

Versus Capital, DU suffered a 25-19 loss in the opening set but rallied for a 25-18 win in the second.  They would play the 21-5 Crusaders tough over the final two sets, eventually falling 19-25 and 20-25.  Senior Kasia Kucharski (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready) and junior Sara Mason (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood) both posted 11 kills to lead DU.  Rookie Lauren Strowder (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) posted three blocks while Trotter and Koneval teamed up for 35 assists.  Leonard was the team's dig leader with 24.

Denison (6-13, 3-4 NCAC) will travel to Hiram College on Wednesday (Oct. 15) for a 7 p.m. match with the Terriers.