By Madeline Hippeard
The Youngstown State University women’s volleyball team broke its four-game losing streak when the lady ‘Guins defeated Purdue University Fort Wayne over the weekend, 3-1.
The Penguins lost the first set of the match, 20-25. Despite this, the lady ‘Guins fought hard to come back from a 20-23 deficit in the second set. The team went on a 5-0 scoring run, earning a 25-23 win.
The lady ‘Guins carried their momentum from the second set into the third, holding the lead for most of the set. They ended the third set on a 6-1 run, resulting in a 25-21 victory.
The Penguins opened the fourth set with a 15-8 lead and extended it to 21-11 later on. Purdue Fort Wayne fought back, bringing the score to 24-22, but was unable to overcome the lady ‘Guins, who won the fourth set, 25-22.
The Penguins collectively had a .310 hitting percentage against Purdue Fort Wayne. They also had three players finish with at least 12 kills.
Junior Jazmin Vergara led the team with 21 kills. Sophomore Abbie Householder finished with 15 kills and freshman Jocelyn Jourdan had 12 kills out of 19 attempts.
Head coach Aline Scott said she thinks the lady ‘Guins tend to play better on the road than at home in Beeghly Center.
“We’re in a hotel, we get to spend a little more time with each other, and it gives us opportunities to work on team chemistry. Being on the road really keeps distractions to a minimum and it’s played to our advantage in recent times,” Scott said.
The Penguins fell 2-3 to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
The lady ‘Guins started the match out strong by winning the first two sets 25-21 and 25-22, respectively. Despite a strong start, the Penguins lost the third set 19-25.
To start off the fourth set, the Penguins held a 8-3 lead. The lady ‘Guins were unable to hold the lead after IUPUI went on an 11-3 scoring run. After IUPUI turned the favor of the game, the Penguins were unable to fight back to the top, resulting in a 19-25 loss.
Senior Dayan Malave said the lady ‘Guins stay positive in situations when they get down in points or lose sets because of what they do in the team huddles.
“We just stay available with each other and we basically tell each other how good we are and how able we are to do it and go to the next point,” Malave said.
The Penguins held the lead multiple times throughout the fifth set. Their first lead was at 9-8, followed by another at 13-12. However, the lady ‘Guins were unable to stop IUPUI from scoring the final three points of the night, costing them the set and the match.
The Penguins lost the tie-breaking fifth set, 13-15.
The lady ‘Guins will return to action Oct. 13 when they travel to Moon Township, Pennsylvania to take on Robert Morris University. For more information and to watch the match, visit ysusports.com and ESPN+.
