Bobcats Drop Second Straight, Lose 3-0 To Delaware State

Bobcats Drop Second Straight, Lose 3-0 To Delaware State
By Jon Alba, QBSN Staff Writer


HAMDEN, Conn. -- Despite a strong showing against a hungry Delaware State Hornets squad, the Quinnipiac Bobcats women's volleyball team failed to win its second match of the season Saturday afternoon, losing 3-0 at Burt Kahn Court.
       
     The Hornets came out of the gates strong with a 4-0 run, but Quinnipiac responded with an emphatic spike by star freshman outside hitter Tierra Allen (Sumter, S.C.). Allen would go on to lead the team in kills with 10 throughout the contest.
       
      Ultimately though, behind two consecutive crafty plays anchored by Hornets middle blocker Laisha Davis, Delaware State stole the first set 25-22.
        
      The second set opened with consistent play from both sides, but a crowd-rattling kill by Bobcats middle hitter Olivia Grattan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) pulled Quinnipiac within three late in the set. However, Davis would once again emerge with a forceful spike, clinching the second set for the Hornets 25-23.
       
       Even as the third got underway with a back-and-forth battle consisting of excellent teamwork and communication by both teams, Delaware State proved to be too much, clinching the victory by winning the slot 25-23. The Hornets picked up their first win of the season, moving to 1-7 overall.
       
       "For most of that match we had one senior, four freshmen, and a sophomore on the floor," said Bobcats coach Robin Sparks, attributing some of the team's difficulties to their youth and inexperience. "We made some freshmen mistakes. I told them they have to learn how to let things go."
       
       Even with the relative young age of the squad, several Quinnipiac players posted respectable numbers in the loss. Both sophomore Tracy Wright (Fair Lawn, N.J.) sported 16 digs, while rising freshman Krista Bennett (Scottsdale, Ariz.) aided with 10 of her own. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, unforced errors on serves and minor tips by the Hornets attack late in the third set cost them their eighth loss of the season.
       
      "I think we're going to try to be more aggressive and talkative," Bennett told QBSN following the match. "From here on out we just plan on going strong."
       
      Quinnipiac (1-8) will face a testy Hartford Hawks (5-6) team on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at home.
       
     "We'll sit tonight and watch the tape to see whatever it takes to work," said Sparks. "And it will work. We just have to find the right formula."