Youngstown State University
16-14
Green Bay
14-14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown State | 25 | 23 | 17 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Green Bay | 21 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 2 |
Penguins Survive Five-Setter with Green Bay to Advance in Horizon League Tournament
11/22/2013 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Milwaukee, Wis. – Alexis Egler tied her career high with 18 kills, and the Youngstown State volleyball team rallied to beat Green Bay 25-21, 23-25, 17-25, 25-17, 15-11, in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament on Friday at the Klotsche Center.
Youngstown State will advance to the tournament semifinals against either top-seeded Milwaukee or second-seeded Valparaiso, while Green Bay's season ends with a record of 14-14. The Penguins won a Horizon League Tournament match for the first time since 2004.
In support of Egler, Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Jenna Cavanaugh showed off her offensive skills with 11 kills on a .476 attack percentage. Aly Ryan was in on eight of Youngstown State's 12 blocks, and Erika West's 18 digs were one shy of Egler's total for team-high honors. Casey D'Ambrose had 29 assists.
Shannon Hurley had a match-high 20 kills, and Jillian Bauer posted a match-high 24 digs for Green Bay.
Green Bay led by two on three occasions early in the first set, including 4-2 on a kill from setter Emily Riese. Nichele Johnson's kill gave the Penguins a side out, and YSU proceeded to go on a 12-3 run to go ahead 14-7. The Phoenix called both of their timeouts during the run, and the second one allowed them to reclaim some momentum. Green Bay scored the next three points and got within one at 17-16 on a Mikaela Gunderson kill.
Youngstown State never lost the lead, and an Egler kill started a 3-0 run to make the score 20-16. Green Bay got within two at 22-20 and 23-21 before a Green Bay serving error and a Watson kill finished the set at 25-21.
Neither team led by more than two in the second set until the Phoenix scored four consecutive points to go ahead 13-10. The Penguins later scored three straight points to go back on top 20-19 and force a Green Bay timeout after an Egler kill. The score was tied three more times, the final time at 22, before Green Bay scored three of the final four points of the set. Hurley had kills on each of the Phoenix's final three points. Egler had nine kills in the set, and the Penguins outhit the Phoenix .438 to .361 in the second set in the setback.
After Youngstown State tied the third set at 1-1, Green Bay scored nine straight points to go up 10-1 and led comfortably the rest of the way. The Penguins were able to trim the deficit to 14-7 and force a timeout, but they were never able to get closer than seven.
The fourth set was also close early until YSU pulled away midway through. With the score tied 10-10, the Penguins went on a 10-4 run to go up 20-14. Green Bay scored the next two points before YSU ended the set by scoring five of the final six points.
Youngstown State never trailed in the fifth set, but Green Bay certainly didn't make it easy. The margin was just one 10 times, including 11-10. Cavanaugh's kill started the final run for the Penguins, and she added another one to give them match point. Egler put the match away with her 18th kill.
