DePauw Unniversity's 23rd ranked Division III volleyball team had another impressive weekend, taking all three games at the Hanover Invitational.
“The team looked really strong this weekend,” senior hitter Mary Kate Etling said. “I believe this team has many strengths and that is what makes us so dangerous.”
Starting Friday against Spalding College the Tigers had a bit of a rough start. After falling behind two sets to zero, the Tigers rallied, winning the final three to take the match.
“The first set was kind of a gut check to our team, because Spalding was playing well and we were sloppy and had fragmented play,” DePauw head coach Deb Zellers said. “We had the will that we weren’t going to allow ourselves to lose that match.”
“We could've gone into the third game acting defeated but instead we stepped on the court and told ourselves there is no way we were going to lose.” said Etling, who had a team high 12 kills against in the victory. “It was a gutsy team win.”
Sophomore Elisabeth Wilson had 11 kills and junior Lauren Falotico contributed with 10 out of the Tigers total 49 kills. Junior Faith Rowles assisted 46 of the 49 kills.
Junior Keely McGrath had 29 digs and Wilson also added five blocks.
“I think what we learned from that Spalding match was that we have to have a mindset against every team that we play that we are going to be sharp with what we can control on our end,” Zellers said.
And the Tigers carried that knowledge into their final games of the weekend.
“Against the next two teams [Otterbein and Centre], which were strong teams that we played, we just had a better level of play,” Zellers said. “The Spalding match allowed us to take a step forward in those next two matches and rise to a higher level of play.”
On Saturday, the Tigers took down Otterbein University in three straight sets (25-21, 25-18, 25-17). Falotico led the team with seven kills and Rowles had all 25 assists.
McGrath dug up 14 balls and tied Wilson in service aces at two apiece. Wilson also had two blocks.
Against Centre later that day, another three set win (25-23, 25-12, 25-17) moved the Tigers at 6-1 on the season and extended their current winning streak to five matches.
Falotico had 12 kills and Wilson had 10 plus seven blocks. Rolwes assisted 35 of the Tigers 47 kills and also had 10 digs.
The Tigers will head back to Greencastle to host the Tiger Invitational on Friday and Saturday. They’ll open the tournament against Defiance College on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.
“I know how hard this team has worked,” Etling said. “This is our chance to show off on our home court all the work we have put in during the off-season, preseason and now up until this point. As an athlete there is no better feeling than playing at home.”
“It will be very good competition,” Coach Zellers said. “We are confident that if we come out and play well we can beat all the teams coming, but at the same time we aren’t overconfident. This season is a day-to-day mission for our team to get better every practice.”