Aston, PA (September 14, 2024) - The DeSales University volleyball team dropped three hard-fought five-set matches at the Neumann University Tournament over the weekend on Friday and Saturday.

The Bulldogs played extremely hard and at times very well but ultimately dropped three straight in three highly contested five set matches that came down to the wire in all three matches.

Match #1 (L/2-3 vs. Neumann - 25-20, 22-25, 24-26, 25-20, 16-18)
On Friday, DSU fought back from a 2-1 deficit to take the fourth set, 25-20, before dropping the fifth set in extra points, 18-16.  The Bulldogs had two set points in the third set leading 24-22 but Neumann won the final four points of the set to take its 2-1 lead.  DSU fought off two set points trailing 14-12 in the fifth to tie the score at 14 before ultimately falling 18-16.

First-year Brooke Signorella led the offensive charge with 15 kills and added 14 digs and three blocks.  Fellow first-year Allison Reimer had 13 kills, hitting .262, and added 20 digs.  Junior Joy Kindall had seven kills and hit .231.  Senior Samantha Worontzoff added six blocks.

Sophomore Bryanna Purisima and first-year Veda Doxen each had 23 assists and Purisima added 13 digs.  First-year Kylie Campbell finished with 25 digs.

Match #2 (L/2-3 vs. Ursinus - 25-23, 15-25, 14-25, 25-21, 13-15)
In a similar situation, the Bulldogs were down 2-1, but forced a fifth set with a 25-21 win in the fourth set.  The scored was tied at 13 in the fifth before the Bears scored the final two points to earn the win.

Kindall led the offense with 12 kills, hitting .400 for the match. Senior Paige Lewis, Reimer, and first-year Maddie Sandt each had nine kills in the loss, with Lewis leading the way hitting .364.

Purisima had 25 assists and 13 digs and Doxzen added 18 assists.  Campbell finished with 20 digs and two aces.

Match #3 (L/2-3 vs. Widener - 24-26, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 14-16)
For the third straight match DeSales forced a fifth set with a 25-23 win in the fourth set.  DSU did squander a 23-21 lead in the first set to fall 26-24.  In the fifth set the Bulldogs were in control leading 13-9 and had two match points leading 14-12, but Widener scored the final four points of the match to take the win.

Reimer led the way in this one with 18 kills, hitting .222.  Kindall finished with 12 kills, hitting .393, and Sandt had 10 kills and 27 digs.  First-year Jocelyn Castro totaled nine kills and hit .261.

Campbell had 28 digs, Doxzen finished with 22 assists and nine digs, and Purisima added 24 assists, four aces, and 10 digs.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Wednesday when they host William Paterson University in a non-conference match beginning at 7:00 pm.