Box Score Dover, Del. (Aug. 26, 2022) ---The Delaware State volleyball team overcame a 0-2 hole to force a deciding fifth set, but came up short in a 3-2 loss to host Youngstown State in the DoubleTree-Youngstown State Invitational this evening. The match was the second of the day for the Hornets, who fell to Valparaiso 3-1 in the tournament opener.
In the Youngstown State contest, the Penguins won the first set 25-19, and opened up a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-22 victory in set two.
Delaware State stayed alive in the contest with a 25-21 win in the third set, and kept the momentum going with a 25-20 victory in set four to force the deciding fifth set.
The score was tied 11 times in set five, the last time at 14-14 after a kill by Delaware State's
Danielle Allen. Youngstown State's Abbie Householder followed by recording the last two kills of the set to give the win to the Penguins.
Karen Cordero (sr.) led Delaware State with 15 kills on 44 attacks in the match (.205).
Alondra Maldonado (jr.) added 10 kills, while
Jasmal Cruz led the Hornets with 19 digs.
Delaware State's
Sydney Lewis (sr.) posted a career-high six of the Hornets' 10 aces in the match. Lewis' previous high was three aces in a match in the 2021 season.
Youngstown State's Paula Gursching led all players with 26 kills and 29.5 points.
Delaware State tallied 49 kills and 33 errors on 156 attacks for a .103 hitting percentage in the match. Youngstown State recorded a .183 attack percentage, recording 60 kills and 29 errors on 169 attacks.
The Hornets tallied 68 digs to 66 for the Penguins. Delaware State also held the edge in blocks, 15-to-12.
In the Valparaiso contest, Delaware State dropped the first set 25-18, but evened the match with a 25-19 win in the second set.
Valpo opened up a 2-1 lead in the match with a hard-fought 25-23 victory in the third set, and sealed the win by taking set four 25-21.
Cordero also led the Hornets with 11 kills in the match, while Lewis added 10 and Maldonado seven. Lewis and Maldonado also led DSU with four blocks each.
The Hornets will wrap up their play at the DoubleTree-Youngstown State Tournament with a match against Idaho on Saturday. Start time is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. in Youngstown, OH.
