Nov. 13, 2009
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Sophomore Ashley Nevelle dished out 42 assists, freshman Brittany Holbrook added 14 kills, and junior Brittany Dunn turned in a 15-dig performance, but the Oakland University volleyball team (17-9, 10-7 Summit League) was unable to overcome a hot-hitting Southern Utah (9-19, 7-10 Summit League) squad, falling 3-2 to the T-Birds on Friday night at the Athletics Center O'Rena.
The loss, coupled with UMKC's 3-0 win over IPFW, sets the stage for a final-day showdown between two teams vying for one of the final spots in the upcoming Summit League championship. The winner of tomorrow's match will claim a tournament berth. "I thought Southern Utah played really well," said Oakland University head coach Rob Beam. "It was a very close match, just like the one we played at their place earlier in the season. It doesn't surprise me that it went to five, I just hoped that we would have a better start to the set. If we don't get down early, the outcome certainly could be different."
After SUU claimed a 25-20 win in the opening set, Oakland responded with a 25-19 win in set two and a 25-22 win in set three. However, the T-Birds knotted the match with a 25-22 win of their own in set four and claimed a 15-8 victory in the fifth and final set.
Joining Holbrook in double-digit kills were sophomore Jenna Lange, who hit .333 with 13 kills, freshman Meghan Bray, who notched 10 kills, and sophomore Allison Bell, who also added 10 kills. Nevelle also turned in a seven-kill, 11-dig performance. SUU held a 12-7 advantage in blocking, as the T-Birds notched six solo blocks to go with 12 assisted blocks. OU was led by Lange with four block assists, and Bell with three block assists and one block solo.
The Golden Grizzlies will conclude the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 14, as they host UMKC in a 4 p.m. match at the Athletics Center O'Rena. OU will honor seniors Adrienne Leone and Nikki Pawson prior to the match.
"I'd like to see our team come out and rebound and play a good match tomorrow night," added Beam. "Honor our seniors with a great effort and we'll take our chances."
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