PISCATAWAY, N.J (Nov 14, 2010) – The Rutgers volleyball team closed out its 2010 season by downing BIG EAST rival DePaul in four sets. With the victory, RU finishes 2010 with an 11-17 (3-10 BIG EAST) record marking the second season in a row that head coach CJ Werneke has improved on the squad’s win total from the previous season.

The match also served as the final contest for four RU seniors; Emma Chrystal (Portage, Mich.), Lauren Voss (Hartland, Wis.), Katie Groff (York, Pa.) and Caitlin Saxton (Encinitas, Calif.).

The first set saw the two squads go back and forth until Rutgers used a 5-0 run to gain a 14-9 advantage thanks to solid serving from Groff, who recorded two aces during the run. From there, Rutgers kept the momentum and closed out the set, 25-20, on a kill by Voss.

RU jumped out to a 19-11 lead in the second set behind solid serving efforts from Saxton, Chrystal and Alex Jones (Chesapeake, Va.) and a balanced offensive attack that saw six different Knights record kills. DePaul scored three of the next four points but it wasn’t enough as RU closed out the set, 25-15, on a thunderous solo block from Hannah Curtis (Wasilla, Alaska) and went into the break with a 2-0 lead.

The Blue Demons responded after the break taking the third set by a score of 25-19.

Rutgers didn’t let the loss in the third get to them as they came out strong in the fourth jumping out to an early 16-8 lead behind strong serving from Curtis, Saxton and Sheridan Taylor (Manhattan Beach, Calif.). The Scarlet Knights kept up their strong play and closed out the set and match, 25-12, on an ace from Chrystal.

Despite the losses of Chrystal, Voss, Groff and Saxton the future looks bright for the Scarlet Knights as they return five starters, including co-captain Stephanie Zielinski (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), from a squad whose 11 wins were the most for the program since 2005.