Davidson College
University of Texas-Pan American
Davidson Defeats UT-PA, Falls to UTSA on Final Day at UTSA Classic
9/11/2010 9:34:28 PM | Volleyball
Box Score vs. UT-Pan America
Box Score vs. UT-San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas -- The Davidson Wildcat volleyball team split decisions on its final day of play at the UTSA Classic, sweeping the University of Texas-Pan America, 3-0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-22) in the morning session before dropping a 3-0 (25, 13, 25-16, 25-18) to the host University of Texas at San Antonio in the UTSA Classic finale Saturday evening at Convocation Center.
Playing in front of her hometown crowd, senior outside hitter Sarabeth Peele was named to the All-Tournament team after leading Davidson (5-4) to victory over UT-PA with 11 kills. Freshman outside hitter Caroline Brown finished with a career-high nine kills and a .438 hitting clip, while senior middle blocker Jorden Benedict chipped in eight to go along with a team-high four blocks. Senior setter Hayley Lawson led the 'Cats with 21 assists, while sophomore libero Molly Crenshaw paced the defense with 13 digs.
Davidson won the first eight points of the opening match to take a commanding lead, including a kill from Benedict and a pair from junior outside hitter Christine Perzinski as Crenshaw served seven straight scores. The Wildcats extended their lead to 11-1 and rolled to a 25-12 win in the first set, as Peele, Perzinski and Benedict all recorded three kills in the frame.
UT-PA rallied in the second set, opening with a 4-0 run, before the Wildcats used a 4-2 run to draw within one, 5-6. The teams traded points, and back-to-back kills from Brown evened the set at eight. UT-PA put together a 5-1 stretch to open a 13-9 lead, but Davidson rattled off six straight, including three aces from Crenshaw, to take a 15-13 lead. The Broncs again took the lead with a 3-0 run, but Davidson went ahead for good with a 5-0 run for a 20-16 lead, and held on for the 25-22 win to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
The Wildcats took an early 3-0 lead in the third set and would lead until the Broncs put together four straight points to go up by one, 9-8. Davidson retook the lead briefly, but Marci Logan got two kills in the middle of a 4-0 Broncs run to put UT-PA ahead, 15-12. The Broncs remained in control of the final game, leading as late as 20-17, before the Wildcats took a 21-20 lead by winning four straight scores. A Wildcat service error knotted the score at 21, but Brown put Davidson back in control, and a Bronc error gave the 'Cats a 23-21 lead, enough for a second straight 25-22 win for the match.
Benedict led the 'Cats against the Roadrunners in the nightcap, finishing with nine kills, and Peele added seven. Lawson finished with 22 assists, and Crenshaw again paced the defense with 12 digs.
UTSA opened a 7-3 lead in the opening set, but Davidson closed within two, 7-9, behind a 4-2 swing. The Roadrunners took control of the set with a 7-2 run, opening a 16-9 lead. Peele and junior right side Erin Lupfer went back-to-back for Davidson, but UTSA finished with a 9-2 run en route to the 25-13 win.
With the second set tied at seven, the Roadrunners put together three straight points to open a slight 10-7 lead and force Davidson into a timeout. The Wildcats kept the set close behind kills from Benedict, Peele, Lawson and Crenshaw, and trailed just three, 15-12, when the Roadrunners started to pull away. UTSA won the next four scores to take a 19-12 edge and would hold off the 'Cats by going 6-4 over the final 10 points in the 25-16 win.
Davidson fought back to within one point, 9-8, after getting behind 7-2 to start the final set. UTSA, thought, regained control with a 5-1 swing to open a 14-9 lead and would go on for the 25-18 win for the match.
The Wildcats will open the home season Tuesday when it hosts N.C. Central at 7 p.m. at Baker Arena. Davidson will conclude its tournament season with its own Nfinity Wildcat Classic Sept. 17 and 18, as the 'Cats host High Point, Boise State and Eastern Michigan.
