Box Score Green Bay used a strong defensive effort to sweep the Youngstown State volleyball team on Saturday evening at the Kress Center, 25-23, 25-11, 25-13.
The Phoenix had 10-1/2 blocks and 41 digs in the three-set match, which limited the Penguins to a .043 attack percentage. YSU had a respectable six blocks, and Lauren Blanco posted 19 digs from her normal libero position after injuries forced her to start as a left side on Friday night.
In addition to missing starting left-side hitters Marketa Plesingrova and Margaux Thompson for the second straight match, YSU also played without starting opposite Sam Brown in the loss to the Phoenix. That made Youngstown State use a 5-1 offense for the first time this season.
Sarah Varcolla paced the Penguins with eight kills, and she and Valor Haggerty both had four block assists.
Lydia DeWeese had 12 kills, and Taylor Totka posted seven blocks to lead Green Bay.
There were 12 ties and seven lead changes in the opening set before the Phoenix scored the final four points of the set to escape with the win. Green Bay led 18-14 when Youngstown State went on an 8-2 run to go up 22-20 on a Varcolla kill. Another Varcolla kill put YSU ahead 23-21, but that was the Penguins' final point of the set. Two kills by DeWeese and two YSU errors resulted in Green Bay's 4-0 run to close the set.
The Phoenix led from start to finish in the second set and did not trail in the third.
Youngstown State will play its first Horizon League home matches of the season next weekend at Beeghly Center. YSU will host Northern Kentucky on Friday at 6 p.m., and it will welcome league newcomer IUPUI on Saturday at 4 p.m.
