University of Connecticut Athletics
Volleyball Gives Louisville Good Fight But Falls 3-1
10/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, Conn. (October 1, 2006) – The University of Connecticut volleyball team put up a valiant fight against Louisville, but the Cardinals were too much as they defeated the Huskies 3-1 (30-21, 25-30, 30-23, 30-26) on Sunday, Oct. 1, in Storrs, Conn.
The Cardinals got off to a quick start in game one to take a 12-7 lead to force UConn (11-6, 1-3 BIG EAST) into an early timeout. The Huskies fought back, being led by junior Sade Chambers (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) with two kills to close the gap at 9-13. Louisville scored four straight points behind serves from Samantha Dabbs to extend their lead to 20-12. UConn came back late in the game with two consecutive blocks by senior Megan Silver (Snohomish, Wash.) and freshman Devon Farrell (Lafayette, Calif.) but the Cardinals were able to hang on and take the game 30-21.
The Huskies came out in game two to take the lead and would never relinquish it. Already having a 15-14 lead, UConn rattled off four straight points behind serves from freshman Kate Seabaugh (St. Louis, Mo.). Louisville looked to make a run, but a kill from Farrell and a huge block by sophomore Lorelle Schaub (New Brighton, Minn.) and sophomore Sarah Singer (Waukasha, Wisc.) saw the score being 24-18. Kills from Silver and Farrell would give the Huskies game two at 30-25.
Game three stayed close as points went back and forth until Louisville capitalized on two straight blocks to go up 22-17. Kills from Farrell and Chambers would keep things close, but Samantha Dabbs used a service ace to claim game three for the Cardinals at 30-23.
Game four proved to be the most intense of the entire match. Junior Julie Pickard (Hillsborough, N.C.) stepped to the service line to give UConn a 10-8 lead. Louisville came back to take the lead at 12-10 behind Dabbs serves once again. Two huge kills from Singer got the Huskies close at 15-16. UConn went on a 3-0 run and with the score showing 18-19, the Cardinals needed a timeout. Chambers would use a kill to tie the game late at 25-25 but late attack errors by the Huskies allowed Louisville to take the game and match 30-26.
Chambers had a great outing as she scored career and match highs with 18 kills. Farrell had a big day with 15 kills while Singer had 10. Freshman Bridget Denson-Dorman (Maple Grove, Minn.) had a match-high 49 assists while freshman Jessica Isaac (Erlanger, Ky.) and Pickard led the way defensively with 13 digs apiece. Seabaugh and Denson-Dorman each had 12 digs.
UConn travels to face Wagner on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.
