Oct. 18, 2013

Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Cassie Pelloni continued to lead Oakland in kills by recording nine while Mary Grassano tallied 20 digs as the Golden Grizzlies (8-13, 2-4 HL) were defeated by Valpo (17-4, 5-1 HL) on Friday night by a margin of 3-1. The set scores were 18-25, 25-23, 20-25 and 13-25.

Melissa Deatsch and Alli Gutschow each recorded two service aces in the loss. The second set - won by Oakland - featured the best hitting efficiency for the team at .256, while sets three and four featured a negative hitting percentage for OU. Valpo hit .429 in the first set to set the tone and was able to take the match in convincing fashion.

Valpo took the first set somewhat easily as Oakland's last lead would come at 2-1 before the Crusaders took over. The Golden Grizzlies would remain in close contention on the scoreboard but could never gain control and Valpo took the first set, 25-18. In the second set, Valpo took the early lead but the last advantage would be 7-6 before the Grizzlies gained momentum in the match. Amanda Baker recorded a kill to make the score 8-7 and Oakland would not hand over the lead for the rest of the set. The Grizzlies actually were allowed to build a five-point lead at 18-13 and earned the 25-23 win in set two to even the overall match score at 1-1.

In the third set, the score remained neck and neck and was tied for the twelfth time of the set at 14-14. Valpo then went on a five-point streak and led OU 19-14, forcing Oakland to take a time out. The Grizzlies came out of the break with a different attitude and pulled their offensive strategy together to come within one at 18-19 on a Valpo attack error. The Crusaders did not back down from their leading ways despite the offensive threats of OU. They went on to take set three 25-20 for the 2-1 advantage in the match.

In set four, Valpo quickly built a seven-point lead at 8-1 which Oakland answered with two kills from Brooke Wadsworth and one from Melissa Deatsch but the Crusaders kept on rolling, especially when Valpo embarked on an eight-point tear to lead OU 23-11. Valpo held on and closed out the set 25-13 to win the match 3-1.

Oakland takes the court again tomorrow against UIC in the Flames Athletic Center at 5 p.m.

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