Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Valparaiso rallied from a two game to one deficit to defeat DePaul 27-30, 30-19, 21-30, 30-20, 15-3 on Wednesday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center, extending the Crusaders' winning streak to six straight matches.

Valpo's hitting was the difference in the match, as the Brown and Gold hit .231, including a 12-kill game five in which the Crusaders hit .500, compared with the Blue Demons' .132 mark for the contest.

Liz Mikos (Dundee, Ill./Jacobs H.S.) led the way for the Crusaders, hitting a blistering .417 with 13 kills, while on the defensive end recording ten blocks. Amy Palash (Winfield, Ill./Saint Francis H.S.) added 16 kills while hitting .342, and added 22 digs for the contest.

Jessi Novak (Antigo, Wis./Antigo H.S.) tallied a team-high 17 kills and added 16 digs, while Lauren Moulton (Elgin, Ill./Larkin H.S.) added 15 kills and seven blocks. Katie Bova (Milwaukee, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels H.S.) dished out 55 assists for the night.

Amy Holmes led DePaul with 19 kills, hit .357, and added 14 digs, while Janet Goreham added 14 kills and 16 digs. Ellen Hayes recorded a match-high 30 digs for the Blue Demons.

In the games Valpo won, the Crusaders hit .308, .317, and .500 respectively. Valpo recorded 13 team blocks for the matchcompared with nine for DePaul, and outdug the Blue Demons 95-82.

DePaul (7-9) dropped its fifth five-game match of the season.

Valparaiso (12-3) will take its winning streak on the road this weekend, as the Crusaders travel to Macomb, Ill. on Friday evening for a 7 p.m. match against Western Illinois.