The Valpo volleyball team's trip to northeastern Ohio started on the wrong foot Thursday evening in Akron, Ohio, as the Beacons dropped a 3-1 (26-24, 25-18, 17-25, 25-17) decision to Coppin State.
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How It Happened
- A 7-0 run on the serve of Rylee Bumgardner (Danville, Ind./Danville) gave Valpo a seemingly insurmountable 23-16 lead late in the opening set, and the Beacons earned set point at 24-18. But the Eagles rattled off the next eight points to rally and take the opener.
- Valpo led 11-7 approaching the midway point of the second frame before Coppin State scored six in a row to take the lead for good, eventually earning a 2-0 lead in the match.
- It was all Valpo to start the third set, as the Beacons scored the first six points and eight of the first nine. The Eagles pulled back to within 19-15 in the late stages, but Valpo ended the set on a 6-2 spurt to extend the match to a fourth frame.
- A four-point run for Coppin State early in set four was the start of a larger 11-3 stretch which gave the Eagles a 15-7 lead, a lead they would not relinquish.
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Inside the Match
- A trio of Valpo attackers finished in double figures in kills, as Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) tied for match-high honors with 14, Maggie Uhwat (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond Burton Community [Central Michigan]) tied her career best with 12 and Jordyn Gove (Amarillo, Texas/Randall) chipped in 10. All three have hit double digits in that department in five of the season's first seven matches.
- Gove tied for team-high honors with 11 digs as well, her fifth double-double of the year. The junior shared the team lead with Keira Lucas (Brazil, Ind./Northview), who returned after missing last weekend due to injury and hit double digits in digs for the third time in her career.
- Jessica Pickett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) had a season-best five blocks to pace the Beacons, while Olivia Wagner (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South) led the way with 16 assists.
- Valpo only trailed Coppin State by one in the kills department (47-46), but committed eight more attack errors as the Eagles hit at a .205 clip versus the Beacons' .121 clip.
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Next Up
Valpo (4-3) continues tournament play with a trip to Cleveland State Friday afternoon. First serve is slated for 4 p.m.
