Center Valley, PA (November 3, 2018) - The DeSales University volleyball team saw its season come to an end with a 3-1 loss to Eastern University in the MAC Freedom Championship match on Saturday afternoon in Billera Hall.

The Basics

• Final Score: Eastern - 3, DeSales - 1 (14-25, 25-23, 18-25, 19-25)
• Records: DeSales (23-9 overall); Eastern (24-7 overall)

How it Happened

• After a slow start to the match four straight points by the Bulldogs tied the score in the opening set at six before Eastern responded with four straight to re-claim a four-point lead (10-6) and DeSales never recovered to fall 25-14.
• The second set was all DeSales for nearly the entire set as DSU opened up a commanding 21-13 lead before errors allowed the Eagles back in the match tying the score at 23.
• Out of a timeout, the Bulldogs got back-to-back kills from junior Morghan Shoemaker to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-23 win.
• Eastern stole the momentum right back to start the third set taking a 9-3 lead and despite pulling within four points several times, DSU was unable to complete the comeback in a 25-18 loss.
• The fourth set was back-and-forth with Eastern leading nearly the entire way until a kill from sophomore Madison Felty and an ace from senior Gabby Savite` tied the score at 17.
• The Eagles responded to the tie with five straight points to take a 22-17 lead and DeSales was unable to get any closer the rest of the way.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Shoemaker finished with 11 kills and hit .400 with three blocks.
• Savite` had 16 kills and 21 digs, hitting .214 and sophomore Grace Merritt finished with 10 kills and three blocks.
• Freshman Audrey Wolfe totaled 42 assists and had 10 digs and three blocks.
• Senior Natalie Gray finished with 17 digs.

For the Foes

• Caroline Shelby finished a match-high 23 kills and hit .316.
• Michelle Paulsen finished with 12 kills and hit .545 with three blocks.
• Morgan Kline had 43 assists and 20 digs and Cecilia Bauer totaled 23 digs.

Inside the Box Score

• DSU finished the match hitting .193 with six team blocks.
• The Bulldogs hurt themselves with eight service errors.
• DeSales sided out 51% of the match, while Eastern had a 66% side out percentage.
• EU hit .291 and seven team blocks.