Center Valley, PA (October 1, 2014) – The DeSales University volleyball battled and gave #19 Eastern University a hard-fought test on Wednesday evening taking a set from the Eagles before ultimately falling 3-1 to the six-time defending Freedom Conference champions (6-25, 18-25, 26-24, 14-25) in Billera Hall.
 
The win in the third set is the first set loss for Eastern (17-5, 3-0 Freedom) in this its seventh year in the Freedom Conference.  The Bulldogs came very close from taking a set in the 2012 championship match but were able to get over the hump on Wednesday evening despite eventually losing the match.
 
After EU rolled to a 25-6 first-set win, DeSales showed signs of life in the second set, falling 25-18.  In the third set Eastern again started strong opening up a 5-1 lead and led 10-5 before the Bulldogs gained some momentum.
 
DSU took seven of the next nine points to tie the score at 12 and took its first lead of the set at 15-14 on a kill from senior Julie Blessing forcing an Eagle timeout.  Leading 16-15 Eastern responded and reeled off four straight points to lead 19-15.
 
An attack error gave EU a 21-17 but an injury on the play forced Eastern to go to their bench and play out of position.
 
The Bulldogs took advantage.
 
Trailing 22-17, DSU scored five straight points to the score at 22 and despite facing set point at 24-23, the Bulldogs scored the final three points of the set on two Blessing kills and another kill from senior Chrissy Banos to earn the 26-24 win.
 
Eastern made a lineup adjustment to start the fourth set due to an injury and jumped out to a 7-0 lead and DeSales was unable to recover in a 25-14 fourth set loss.
 
Freshman Logan Wieziolowski led the attack for the Bulldogs with nine kills and three blocks.  Blessing also had three blocks and added six kills, while freshman Sienna Heist had seven kills.  Banos finished with six kills and two blocks.
 
Sophomore Lisa Wallitsch totaled 24 assists and had 12 digs, while junior Laura Greenberg had 19 digs and senior Amanda Wallitsch finished with 17 digs in the loss.
 
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday when they travel to Messiah College to take on both the Falcons and Lycoming College beginning at 10 am.