The Youngstown State University volleyball team fell in four sets Friday night to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
The Penguins (4-24, 2-13) came into the game off a five set victory over the University of Illinois Chicago on Saturday. Green Bay (10-17, 6-9) entered the game off a four set loss to Wright State University.
Freshman outside hitter Alexis Egler, who had had 13 kills and 11 digs, said she believes the team played well but had trouble hanging on.
“[In] our last win, I feel like it boosted our confidence, but I think we need to focus on keeping the lead the whole time and not break down,” Egler said. “We just need to focus on improving our passes.”
Sophomore setter Casey D’Amborse agreed with Egler’s thoughts.
“I think we played at a pretty good level,” D’Ambrose said. “I think we could have played with a little more energy. Last weekend, we played with a lot more energy that we could have used tonight.”
The Penguins opened the match dropping the first set 28-26. Four different players, with three kills each, paced the Penguins.
Sophomore Missy Hundelt had 10 total attacks to lead the Penguins. Egler and sophomore middle blocker Nichele Johnson followed Hundelt with eight apiece.
Senior right side hitter Abbey Gitter led Green Bay with five kills in the opening set. Fellow senior outside hitter Carlie Wilson and senior middle blocker Kelly Mischler followed Gitter with four kills apiece.
“I don’t think we were on our A game tonight,” head coach Krista Burrows said.
‘We could have won the first two sets, but I just don’t think we were very crisp tonight.”
The second set had eight ties and three lead changes, but the Penguins eventually dropped the set 25-23. The Penguins were able to battle back after a 9-3 scoring run by Green Bay, taking the lead at 23-22 but couldn’t hold on.
Egler led the Penguins with five kills in the set. Hundelt totaled 11 total attacks for the Penguins, while Egler had nine, and sophomore outside hitter Jackie Carlisle had six.
Junior middle blocker Carmen Leitermann, with seven kills and 13 total attacks, led Green Bay. Sophomore Leah Van Zeeland had eight total attacks and Gitter finished with seven total attacks in the set.
In the third set, the Penguins won 25-20. Carlisle and freshman middle blocker Shannon Watson both compiled four kills each. Egler and Hundelt followed them with three kills apiece. Carlisle and Hundelt each finished with 11 total attacks in the set.
Leitermann and Mischler both had four kills in the set for Green Bay. Gitter had 12 total attacks.
In the final set, the Penguins fell 25-18. Hundelt went down with an injury midway through the set and did not return.
Burrows said Hundelt would not have made a difference.
“Honestly, they had the momentum at that point,” Burrows said. “We were struggling, and mentally it might have made a difference, but I think I think it might have been the same outcome with how the momentum was swinging at that point.”
Going into the final game of the year Saturday, D’Amborse thinks the team can win if they execute.
“We just need the energy all around and come out ready to play,” D’Ambrose said. “Tomorrow, if we come in and play like we can, I know we can do it.”
The match is set for 2:00 p.m. against Loyola University of Chicago, and it will honor Penguins’ seniors Bri Kern and Brittany Grove.
