(GREEN BAY ATHLETICS) YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO – The Green Bay volleyball team will leave Youngstown 2-0 on the weekend, after taking the Penguins down 3-1 Saturday afternoon (25-22, 16-25, 25-19, 25-13).
The Phoenix is now 2-0 in Horizon League play, tied with Milwaukee at the top of the standings.
Green Bay took sets one, three, and four behind Katie Schulz’s 15 kills on the day. Cora Behnke added 11 and Danilynn Schell chipped in with 11 as well. Four players reached double figures in digs for GB, starting with 14 from Abby Gardner, 12 from Calli Gentry, and 11 from Emma Best and Kennedy Schmitz. Ellie Kurpeikis led the Green Bay front row, finishing with five blocks.
Gentry finished the match with 40 assists. Saturday’s match was the fourth time this season she’s eclipsed 40+ in a match.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The two teams battled back and forth for the first half of the set, with Youngstown State grabbing a 15-14 lead to head into the first media timeout. Out of the timeout, The Phoenix made the set-deciding run, 7-0, to take a 21-15 lead. YSU closed that gap a bit, but GB closed the frame out 25-22.
SET 2 | The Penguins responded in emphatic fashion in the second, downing the Phoenix 25-16. The YSU offense was strong in the set, putting down 17 kills on a .361 hitting percentage.
SET 3 | The third set was perhaps the decider in the match, with the two teams tying 13 times throughout and exchanging the lead six times. The Phoenix came out victorious 25-19 to go up two sets to one.
SET 4 | Green Bay kept the momentum going, claiming the match win with a dominant 25-13 set-four victory. Three aces in the frame along with 14 kills on a .353 hitting percentage highlighted a potent Phoenix attack.
GAME NOTES
» Emma Best had a match-high four aces in the win.
» Green Bay never trailed on the way to winning the fourth set 25-13.
» Schulz has finished with double figures in kills in five of the last seven matches.
ON THE HORIZON
Green Bay will open its home Horizon League slate with a big early season matchup with Milwaukee on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Kress Center. The home stand will continue with two matches against Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.
EN BAY ATHLETICS)
