Eagles Soar Past Wildcats

Tuesday, September 18

Davidson, N.C.

7:00

Davidson College

Winthrop

9/18/2007 8:09:52 PM | Volleyball

Lauren Biggers

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Senior Katie Pierucci posted 10 kills and 13 digs for her fifth double-double of the season, but the Wildcat volleyball squad dropped a 3-0 decision (30-28, 30-23, 30-22) to the Winthrop Eagles on Tuesday night at Belk Arena.

With 11 kills, freshman Sarabeth Peele joined Pierucci in double figures for Davidson (5-8).

But Winthrop's Shannon Sitzmann, the Big South Preseason Player of the Year, proved herself as much, tallying 13 kills and nine blocks and hitting .360 to pace the Eagle offense. Kellie Sellers (11) and Tara Toepke (13) also touched double digits for Winthrop, who improved to 4-9.

In game one, the two teams traded points until the end, with 13 ties and a pair of lead changes. Tied at 28, Toepke posted her fifth kill of the game to give the Eagles a game-point chance and a Wildcat attack error lifted Winthrop to a 30-28 victory.

The Eagles took an early 10-3 lead in game two and forced Davidson to play catch-up the rest of the way. Trailing 28-18, Pierucci served four straight points to give the 'Cats a chance, but Winthrop went on for the 30-23 win to take a two-game advantage in the match.

After the break, the 'Cats went back on the offensive, taking a 15-12 lead and forcing the Eagles into a timeout. Davidson led until 19-16 when Sellers ran off four straight points to knot the score and force the 'Cats to take a timeout. Sellers kept rolling, getting two more points to give Winthrop a 21-20 lead. Davidson again knotted things at 22, but Winthrop libero Pohai Nu'Uhiwa served the game out, taking eight straight points to win the match with a 30-22 victory.

Davidson will open Southern Conference play this weekend, traveling to Cullowhee, N.C. for a 2 p.m. match at Western Carolina on Sat., Sept. 22, and continuing to Chattanooga, Tenn. to face Chattanooga at 2 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 23.