Nov. 7, 2009
Box Score
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist volleyball team took the first set 25-20 in its match against Niagara at the McCann Center Saturday afternoon, but could not hang on for the win. The Purple Eagles won the match 3-1 by winning the second, third, and fourth sets by identical 25-22 scores. Senior outside hitter Alexandra Schultze (Austin,Texas) led the Red Foxes with 15 kills and added six digs.
Sophomore Emily Brosky (Whitehall, Pa.) led Marist with 12 digs.
Marist (15-11, 9-6 MAAC) got off to a hot start to the match, going ahead 8-3 on kills by Foss, Harridsleff, Lindsey Schmid (Austin, Texas), and Kayla Burton (Kissimmee, Fla.). Niagara (20-7, 13-3 MAAC) got within one at 9-8 on kills by Michelle James, Kathy Bibler, and Kari Honomichl, and again at 12-11 on a Bibler service ace. Schultze then put down a kill to put Marist back on serve at 13-11, then the Red Foxes got a block from Schmid and Foss and a Purple Eagles error to go ahead by four, 15-11. Marist continued to pour it on, taking its largest lead of the match at 22-16 on a Schultze kill. The Purple Eagles then took the next three points on a Honomichl kill and back-to-back blocks by Honomichl and Amanda Wilken to make the score 22-19. That would be as close as Niagara would get, as Schultze and Schmid each put down kills to go along with a Stephanie Robinett (Sugar Land, Texas) service ace to win the set 25-20.
The Red Foxes had an early lead to start the second set, but Niagara used three Hannah Hedrick kills to tie the set at 8-8. With the set tied at 10-10, the Purple Eagles went on a 4-0 run highlighted by a Honomichl ace to take a 14-10 lead. Marist closed to within two at 14-12 and 15-13 on Harridsleff kills, but Niagara would not be deterred. The Purple Eagles grew their lead to five at 21-16 on a kill by Shannon Ryan and hung on to win the set 25-22 with a Hedrick kill.
Niagara jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead to open the third set, getting kills from Hedrick, Bibler, and Honomichl. Marist then used a Harridsleff kill and some Niagara miscues to tie the set at 6-6. The set would then be tied 11 times in the next 20 points as the two teams dualed to a 17-17 tie. Niagara was the team to break the stalemate as a Hedrick kill started a 4-0 run for the Purple Eagles that gave them a 21-17 lead. The Purple Eagles had set point at 24-20 on a Honomichl kill, but could not put away Marist. The Red Foxes fought off two set points with a Foss kill and a Niagara error, making the score 24-22. The Purple Eagles then got a block by Wilken and Ryan to win the third set 25-22 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Purple Eagles jumped right out of the gates in the fourth set, taking a 9-3 lead. Marist took the next three points as a block by Schmid and Schultze and a Schultze kill made the score 9-6. The Red Foxes got within two at 16-14 on a Schmid kill, but that would be as close as they would get. Niagara used kills by Hedrick and James to take a 19-14 lead. Marist made the score 21-18 on a Harridsleff kill, but the Purple Eagles took the next three points to go ahead 24-19 and have five match points. Marist got a Foss kill and a block by Burton and Dawn Jan (Belleville, N.J.) to fight off two of those match points, making the score 24-21 and forcing a Niagara timeout. After a Niagara error made the score 24-22, Hedrick put down a kill to make the score 25-22 to give the Purple eagles the set and the match.
Marist hit .265 for the match, holding Niagara to a .241 hitting percentage. The Purple Eagles held a 60-52 advantage in digs and a 7-3 edge in service aces. The Red Foxes had eight blocks while Niagara only had three. Honomichl led all players with 17 kills and also had 10 digs. Hedrick had 16 kills and 13 digs. Libero Sam Morgan led all players with 16 digs.
The Red Foxes close out the home portion of their 2009 season on Sunday with a 2 p.m. match against Canisius on Senior Day. Seniors Alexandra Schultze will be honored prior to the start of Sunday's match.
