Sept. 27, 2008

Balanced Attack Comes Up Short in Five Sets at Wright State

    Dayton, Ohio -- Youngstown State's four players to register double-digits in kills wasn't enough on Saturday in a five-set loss to Wright State.
    Wright State countered with five players posting at least 10 kills, including a match-high 16 from Jessica Woods.
    The match featured 31 ties and nine lead changes, all of which came in the first four sets before Wright State hit .471 en route to a 15-11 triumph in the final set.
    Ruth Boscaljon registered 14 kills to lead YSU while Ebony Barbosa had a double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs. Kaitlin O'Hara turned in 13 kills while Tasha Reid posted 11.
    Wright State trailed just once in the opening set and battled through 11 ties to win 25-21. Wright State used a 4-0 lead to take a 7-4 lead before YSU scored the next three to tie the score 7-7. The Penguins stayed within two and worked to a tie at 18-18 before a 4-0 run put Wright State ahead 22-18.
    The second set was even tighter with seven lead changes and 16 ties before YSU prevailed 25-23. Neither team led by more than two until YSU's 3-0 run late gave it a 23-20 advantage. Wright State got within 24-23 before Barbosa's kill gave YSU the set win.
    Wright State scored five of the first six points in the third set and never lost the lead in its 25-22 win. YSU tied the score three different times - the last time at 21-21 - before the Raiders went on to score four of the final five points.
    The Penguins led for all but four points of the fourth set en route to a 25-19 win. They opened up an 11-3 advantage and held off a late Raiders charge that cut the margin to three.
    YSU scored four straight points in the final set to cut a 10-5 deficit to one, but Wright Stat answered with a 3-0 run that carried it to a 15-11 victory.
    The Penguins will stay on the road to play at Butler and Valparaiso next weekend. YSU plays at Butler on Friday at 7 p.m. and Valpo a day later at 5 p.m.