Louisville Snaps Volleyball's Win-Streak; Clip Pirates, 3-0
10/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall volleyball team dropped its first BIG EAST match, 3-0 (29-27, 25-18, 25-21), to Louisville on Friday night. The Pirates' (12-7, 3-1) five-match win-streak was also snapped in the loss.
Senior Meghan Matusiak (Winfield, Ill.) had 11 kills to lead the attack. Junior Olivia Trudeau (Shell Beach, Calif.) posted 13 digs to anchor the defense. Reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year, Lola Arslanbekova, led the Cards with 21 kills.
The first set was the most entertaining of the night, boasting 12 tie scores and 11 lead swaps in the frame. The Cardinals took a 17-13 lead on a block by Brooke Mattingly and Taylor Brauneis, the largest margin either team would hold in the set. The Pirates responded with a 9-3 push to jump ahead, 22-20, but could not put Louisville away.
Brauneis, a setter, gave the lead back to the Cards with a sneak-attack kill at 24-23. SHU answered with two in a row to force set point, but the Pirates could not capitalize on their serves. Trailing 27-26, Arslanbekova rattled off a trio of kills gave Louisville the hard-fought set victory.
Set two was another close affair for much of the way with the Cardinals holding a small margin. With the score 20-18, Louisville scored five unanswered to take the 2-0 lead in the match.
The Cardinals continued to control the scoreboard in the third set, but Seton Hall would not go down without a fight. Down five points, the Pirates clawed within two after a service error. Arslanbekova answered with her final kill of the night to stop the momentum and complete the sweep.
SHU is back in action on Sunday, October 9, at 2:00 p.m. when they welcome Cincinnati to Walsh Gym.
