NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Rutgers volleyball team was unable to win back-to-back matches for the first time this season, falling to BIG EAST foe DePaul 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-14) Friday evening at the College Ave. Gym.
Sophomore Lauren Voss (Hartland, Wis.) recorded a team-high nine kills, her second best output of the season. Classmate Caitlin Saxton (Encinitas, Calif.) dug a team-best 10 balls for the Scarlet Knights, who fall to 2-19 overall and 1-10 in league play.
The Scarlet Knights came out on fire in the opening set of play, hoping to carry momentum from their 3-1 win over West Virginia on Nov. 2. Rutgers won seven of the first eight points to grab a commanding 7-1 lead. The early momentum quickly vanished though as DePaul stormed back to win nine of the next 12 points to knot the set up (10-10). The set remained tied at 14-14 until a 5-0 Blue Demons spurt gave DePaul control of the set and match.
In the second set, DePaul sprinted out to a 3-0 lead, but the Scarlet Knights fought back to even the set (7-7). Once again a big Blue Demons run would give them control in the middle of the set though. DePaul took an 11-7 lead and RU would get no closer than two the rest of the set. The Blue Demons never trailed in the third set.
Sarah Cullen led the way for the DePaul, posting match-highs with 13 kills and 11 digs for a double-double. Teammate Jacie Fiedler added 10 kills for the Blue Demons, who improve to 5-21 overall and 3-9 in the BIG EAST.
Rutgers will play its final home match of the season Sunday against Notre Dame at 2 p.m. The match will be the final home contest for lone senior Roxy Calder (Oceanside, Calif.).
