There was a certain smell inside the McGrath-Phillips Arena this past weekend for DePaul.
What was that smell you might ask? Simple: The smell of winning.
Coming off of the Western Illinois Invitational last weekend, the Blue Demons were riding a 2 match winning streak, and coming home overall 2-1 to begin the DePaul Invitational last Friday night.
Their first challenge ahead of them were the Toledo Rockets, a team that only finished 1-28 back in the 2014 season. With strong net front presence from freshman Brittany Maxwell, her team high 11 kills help the Blue Demons conquer the 1st of 3 matches in the tournament beating the Rockets in 3 straight sets. Sophomore Caitlyn Coffey also contributed with double digit kills as well, with 10 in the match. Here's the stat sheet from this match: DePaul vs Toledo.
So match 1 is in the books. Two more loom the following day, and speaking of Caitlyn Coffey...
Saturday was the 1st of 2 matches the Blue Demons took on. In the afternoon portion of the day, they battled with the Evansville Purple Aces. For Blue Demons sophomore Caitlyn Coffey, it was a match she surely will not forget anytime soon. Coffey had everything working for her all match long, totaling a team high and new career best 21 kills in the match. Evansville was not able to stop her wherever she was on the court. Senior Libero Tyler Graham had a team high 17 digs in the match, along with 53 assists from Colleen Smith. After going through a tough 3rd set, which the Blue Demons won 33-31, their foot was on the gas pedal taking total control of set 4 and winning that set 25-12, winning the match in 4 total sets. Here is the complete stats sheet for the match: DePaul vs Evansville
After that win, DePaul goes 2-0 in the Invitational with a chance to clinch the DePaul Invitational. Only thing standing in their way were the Panthers from Eastern Illinois, who also was 2-0 entering the final match of Saturday evening.
With more stellar performances from Smith, Coffey, Graham, and Saige Gallop, who posted a team high 18 kills, DePaul was able to hold off a tough and stingy EIU Panthers team, specifically Marah Bradbury with an overall 8 kills, 41 assists, and 8 digs.After DePaul took set 1, 25-21, sets 2,3, AND 4 needed extra points to be played. Set 2 taken by EIU 26-24, then sets 3 and 4 finished with the same score, but with a different team on the other side of the outcomes. DePaul took those final 2 sets, winning the match in 4, and taking home the 2015 DePaul Invitational. Here's the box score on this match: DePaul vs Eastern Illinois.
When speaking with Blue Demons head coach Nadia Edwards after the match versus Eastern Illinois, she had high praises for everyone on the team and is happy to let her team keep on rolling and not trying to change much. Not sure if you can blame her on that. DePaul now stands at 5-1 on the 2015 season, as next weekend they head out for another tournament, this time down at Georgia State University. DePaul has won their last 5 matches.
Some other notes from this weekend:
-DePaul Invitational MVP: Caitlyn Coffey, DePaul
- DePaul Invitational All-Tournament Team: Colleen Smith (DePaul), Saige Gallop (DePaul), Allie Hueston (Eastern Illinois), Genesis Miranda (Evansville), and Rachel Vidourek (Toledo).
FINAL STANDINGS:
Champion: DePaul 3-0
Runner-Up: Eastern Illinois 2-1
3rd Place: Toledo 1-2
4th Place: Evansville 0-3
In case you missed any games that you would like to hear the radio broadcast from, go HERE.
FYI: Make sure to catch all the HOME broadcasts of DePaul Women's Volleyball on chicagolandsportsradio.com/watch. You can also go to livestream.com/chicagolandsports as well. The next home broadcast will be Wednesday, September 23rd at 7PM CT when they host their first Big East conference game of the season as they will welcome to town the Butler Bulldogs.
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