By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
October 15, 2009

Results

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team won its second-straight BIG EAST match this evening, as it defeat DePaul in front of a record crowd at the WVU Coliseum.

“We were very excited to play this match with a lot of people here tonight,” coach Veronica Hammersmith says. “To beat DePaul in three sets was one of out goals so we are glad to get that done as well. This is one more win to help us try and get to the BIG EAST tournament down the road. It was a good match for us and we are looking forward to Sunday’s Think Pink match”

The Mountaineers improved to (13-9, 3-4) after defeating the Blue Demons (6-12, 0-4) in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-20) match.

WVU started set one with a 2-0 lead, after back-to-back kills from junior middle blocker Abby Norman and senior outside hitter Kristina Gallahan. The Mountaineers went on to dominate the rest of the set as Norman led with five kills and junior libero Bonnie West led on defense with seven digs.

Set two once again started with an early WVU lead, this time after junior middle blocker Lauren Evans powered a kill, followed by one from Gallahan giving the Mountaineers a 3-1 advantage. Up 14-11, a kill from junior middle blocker Andrea Miller fueled a 7-0 Mountaineer run, which gave them the momentum to end the set.

The Blue Demons fought back in the third set, as they stuck with the Mountaineers for most of the game. Tied at 12, a kill from Evans put the Mountaineers back on top. WVU remained in the lead for the rest of the set, as Miller ended the match with a kill.

Evans led the Mountaineers with 11 kills and a .625 hitting percentage, her highest of the season. Norman followed with 10 kills, while West posted 14 digs.

The Mountaineers are set to continue action with their “Think Pink” match against Notre Dame at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.