Tuesday, October 2
Davidson, N.C.
7:00
Davidson College
1
vs
3
Furman
'Cats Claw, but Pierucci's Eighth Double-Double Not Enough
10/2/2007 8:30:02 PM | Volleyball
Lauren Biggers -- Assistant SID
Box Score
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Senior outside hitter Katie Pierucci posted her eighth double-double of the season, with 24 kills and 22 digs, and her second in as many matches, but the Davidson Wildcat volleyball team dropped a hard-fought four-game battle (28-30, 30-23, 30-28, 30-23) to the Furman Paladins at Belk Arena Tuesday night in SoCon action.
Pierucci was joined by junior outside hitter Kittery Neale and sophomore outside hitter Tierney Hodge in double-digit kills for the 'Cats, who fall to 6-12 overall and 1-4 in conference play. Alison West (24 kills, 11 digs) and Chibuzo Aguocha (23, 13) each double-doubled to pace the Paladins, who improve to 11-4 and 4-1 in the league.
Neale posted a season-high 18 kills, while also Hodge contributed a season-high, and with 13 kills, was just one shy of her career high. As a team, the Wildcats posted season highs in both kills (69) and assists (65). Freshman setter Hayley Lawson posted a career- and team season-high 58 assists, while Courtney Stewardson had 65 for Furman. On the defensive end, senior libero Lindsey Woeste chipped in 15 digs for the 'Cats, while Stephanie Smith had 14 for Furman.
Fresh off Saturday's 3-1 win over The Citadel, Davidson came out firing on all cylinders, rolling to an 11-5 lead behind three kills by both Pierucci and Hodge in game one. After an early Paladin timeout, Hodge added two more kills, as freshman Jennifer Chamblee served six straight points to give the 'Cats a 12-6 lead. Furman would mount a late attack, with the 'Cats holding a tenative 28-24, and put together a 4-2 run to pull within one, 29-28. Head coach Tim Cowie used a timeout, and the 'Cats responded, as Neale put away her second kill for the 30-28 win.
In the second game, Davidson again jumped out to an early lead, taking a 4-1 edge behind a pair of kills from Neale and a putaway by freshman middle blocker Jorden Benedict. Furman gradually chipped away, eventually getting the score knotted at 15, and pulled ahead on one of Aguocha's 10 kills. Pierucci got the point back, and the two teams traded possessions, until with the score tied at 18, Furman put together a four-point serve to take a 22-18 lead. From that point, the Paladins used a 8-5 run for the 30-23 win to tie the match.
Davidson fell behind after the break, losing the first three points, but fought back to knot the score at 11-11, and again at 12-12, as Pierucci and Neale combined for 12 kills in the third game. Tied at 12, the 'Cats won four straight to take a 16-12 lead and force Furman into a timeout. Davidson would hold that lead until later in the match when a 7-0 run knotted the score at 24, and West put the Paladins on her back, talling 10 kills and hitting .714 in the 30-28 win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth and final game was back-and-forth most of the way. With the Paladins holding a slight 20-18 lead, Pierucci put away a pass from Lawson, to put the 'Cats within one. The teams traded possessions, until Neale knotted the score at 21-21 with one of her five kills. Emily Harby posted a kill to regain possession for the Paladins, and Pamela Gehrke put Furman in control with a six-point serve for a 28-21 lead. After back-to-back kills from Neale, the Paladins took the final two points for the 30-23 win for the match.
Davidson will return to action this weekend, traveling to Elon for a 4 p.m. match on Saturday, and on to Greensboro for a noon match on Sunday.
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Senior outside hitter Katie Pierucci posted her eighth double-double of the season, with 24 kills and 22 digs, and her second in as many matches, but the Davidson Wildcat volleyball team dropped a hard-fought four-game battle (28-30, 30-23, 30-28, 30-23) to the Furman Paladins at Belk Arena Tuesday night in SoCon action.
Pierucci was joined by junior outside hitter Kittery Neale and sophomore outside hitter Tierney Hodge in double-digit kills for the 'Cats, who fall to 6-12 overall and 1-4 in conference play. Alison West (24 kills, 11 digs) and Chibuzo Aguocha (23, 13) each double-doubled to pace the Paladins, who improve to 11-4 and 4-1 in the league.
Neale posted a season-high 18 kills, while also Hodge contributed a season-high, and with 13 kills, was just one shy of her career high. As a team, the Wildcats posted season highs in both kills (69) and assists (65). Freshman setter Hayley Lawson posted a career- and team season-high 58 assists, while Courtney Stewardson had 65 for Furman. On the defensive end, senior libero Lindsey Woeste chipped in 15 digs for the 'Cats, while Stephanie Smith had 14 for Furman.
Fresh off Saturday's 3-1 win over The Citadel, Davidson came out firing on all cylinders, rolling to an 11-5 lead behind three kills by both Pierucci and Hodge in game one. After an early Paladin timeout, Hodge added two more kills, as freshman Jennifer Chamblee served six straight points to give the 'Cats a 12-6 lead. Furman would mount a late attack, with the 'Cats holding a tenative 28-24, and put together a 4-2 run to pull within one, 29-28. Head coach Tim Cowie used a timeout, and the 'Cats responded, as Neale put away her second kill for the 30-28 win.
In the second game, Davidson again jumped out to an early lead, taking a 4-1 edge behind a pair of kills from Neale and a putaway by freshman middle blocker Jorden Benedict. Furman gradually chipped away, eventually getting the score knotted at 15, and pulled ahead on one of Aguocha's 10 kills. Pierucci got the point back, and the two teams traded possessions, until with the score tied at 18, Furman put together a four-point serve to take a 22-18 lead. From that point, the Paladins used a 8-5 run for the 30-23 win to tie the match.
Davidson fell behind after the break, losing the first three points, but fought back to knot the score at 11-11, and again at 12-12, as Pierucci and Neale combined for 12 kills in the third game. Tied at 12, the 'Cats won four straight to take a 16-12 lead and force Furman into a timeout. Davidson would hold that lead until later in the match when a 7-0 run knotted the score at 24, and West put the Paladins on her back, talling 10 kills and hitting .714 in the 30-28 win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth and final game was back-and-forth most of the way. With the Paladins holding a slight 20-18 lead, Pierucci put away a pass from Lawson, to put the 'Cats within one. The teams traded possessions, until Neale knotted the score at 21-21 with one of her five kills. Emily Harby posted a kill to regain possession for the Paladins, and Pamela Gehrke put Furman in control with a six-point serve for a 28-21 lead. After back-to-back kills from Neale, the Paladins took the final two points for the 30-23 win for the match.
Davidson will return to action this weekend, traveling to Elon for a 4 p.m. match on Saturday, and on to Greensboro for a noon match on Sunday.
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