INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Panthers didn't receive the outcomes during their two matches today that they would have hoped. Davenport went 0-2 on the first day of the University of Indianapolis Invitational, both matches going to a tie-breaking fifth set. During each match the Panthers had opportunities to win the match, but couldn't pull through. The team will take the experiences they had today and use them to improve during tomorrow's matches.

MATCH 1 (CLARION UNIVERSITY)
Final Score: Davenport 2, Clarion 3
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
Records: Davenport 2-3, Clarion 4-1

HOW IT HAPPENED
-SET SCORES: 24-26, 16-25, 25-22, 25-20, 7-15
-The first set of the day seemed to set the tone for the rest of the day, nothing was going to come easy. After getting down 18-22 DU went on a four point run to tie things up. Clarion was able to string back to back points to earn the 26-24 win.
-Clarion pulled away in the second set, taking a 19-12 lead. Davenport couldn't come back and found themselves down 0-2.
-In the third and fourth set the Panthers flipped the switch and won two straight sets. Both sets Clarion was able to score 20 or more points, never giving DU an easy set win.
-During the tie-breaking fifth set Clarion went on a match-changing six point run to go up 13-5. Krissy Dill and Ashley VanderHorst did their best to keep DU in the game by each recording a kill, but Clarion finished the set off and won 15-7.
-Dill set the school record for most kills during a match, she recorded 27 over the five sets. She broke her own previous record of 26 that was set last year.

MATCH 2 (WHEELING JESUIT)
Final Score: Davenport 2, Wheeling Jesuit 3
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
Records: Davenport 2-4, Wheeling Jesuit 3-3

HOW IT HAPPENED
-SET SCORES: 25-15, 14-25, 18-25, 25-18, 11-15
-Davenport came out of the gate with a fiery passion, scoring five un-answered points. The Panthers kept the momentum going the rest of the set, compiling a couple nice runs to easily win the set 25-15.
-Wheeling Jesuit responded with two sets of their, winning by 11 and seven points.
-The Panthers won a much needed fourth set to force yet another fifth set.
-During the final set a four point run late gave Wheeling Jesuit a 12-6 lead. Davenport won three points while it was match point, but were un-able to complete the comeback.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will take on two more teams during day two of the tournament tomorrow. They face Stonehill College at 9am and Saginaw Valley State at 4pm.

Story by: Devin Steiner
Photo credit: Benjamin Amato