Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Marquette Tops Virginia Commonwealth, 3-1
2/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 27, 2005
MILWAUKEE - The Marquette volleyball team knocked off Virginia Commonwealth University, 3-1 (28-30, 30-21, 30-26, 30-20), in its second match of the Holiday Inn Milwaukee Centre Volleyball Kick-off this afternoon in the Al McGuire Center. The Golden Eagles improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Rams fall to 1-1.
"I am really proud of the way the team played this afternoon, because Virginia Commonwealth is a heck of a team and it showed both last night and today," said head coach Pati Rolf. "I thought one of the biggest factors in this win was the play off the bench. Nicole Wallace stepped up and really made a difference for the rest of the team."
VCU earned its lone win in the first game, defeating Marquette 28-30. Marquette put up a fight, but could never relinquish a seven-point deficit midway through the game. Theresa Coughlin recorded eight of her team-high 23 kills to help the Golden Eagles come within two points of the Rams late in game one.
The Golden Eagles avenged the game one loss, winning game two 30-21. Marquette went on a 6-0, while holding a 19-11 kills advantage to help seal the victory and tie the match at one game apiece.
In game three, the Golden Eagles and the Rams traded points for much of the game until Marquette pulled ahead and held a game-high five point lead which VCU could not come back from. The Golden Eagles maintained the lead and won game three, 30-26.
Marquette kept the momentum on its side in game four and lead by as many as 10 points which the Rams could not renounce, ending game four, 30-20. Coughlin and junior Nicole Wallace each were stellar offensively combining for 11 kills.
Coughlin led the Golden Eagles with 23 kills, while Wallace and sophomore Jenn Brown each contributed a career-high number of kills with 10 and 13, respectively. Junior transfer Katie Weidner also aided in the Marquette's attack as she tallied 60 assists.
VCU's Renata Salvatori led the Rams with 17 kills, while Ana Luiza Borja added 15. Melissa Peterson came up big for the Rams defensively recording four blocks.
The Golden Eagles will wrap-up tournament play hosting Pacific tonight in "The Al" at 7 p.m.
