Oct. 4, 2006

Box Score

Wednesday night in the Bruder Gymnasium, the Neumann Knights volleyball team hosted the Eagles of Eastern University in crucial PAC conference play. Eastern (#1 pre-season poll) edged the Knights in three straight, close games, 30-19, 30-25, 30-28.

 

In front of a packed crowd, the Knights never let up; competing and working as a team to create an edge of your seat performance which lasted over two hours. In the opening game, Eastern came out strong. Neumann fought back to come within six, midway through play, led by hitters Rachael Sokolovich and freshman Emilee Gruse. The eagles eventually took off late in the game and landed a 30-19 win.

 

Neumann regrouped and came out strong in the second game forcing Eastern's coach to call a time out and refocus his squad. Game two would turn out to be an exciting one, provided partially by Christina Walsh's mid-game serving. Game two would come down to the wire with Eastern sneaking by again in the crucial points of the match (30-25) to take a two game lead.

 

With their backs to the wall, the Knights were not going to go down with out a fight. Right when you thought two conference powerhouses playing in a packed gym could not get any more exciting...it did. The third game was played point for point, back and forth, run verse run at both ends. With the Knights down 24-16 and looking like the night could be over, Julia Tarloski send a powerful attack over the net striking an opponent square on, and completely shifting the momentum of the game in Neumann's favor. All tied up at 25's aside, Neumann and Eastern climbed the scoreboard one-by-one until Eastern reached the top first and taking the third game (30-28) and the match to better their PAC record to 5-0. 

 

Neumann returns to the court on Saturday, October 7th at College Misericorida, beginning at 1:00 p.m.