Pirates Drop Epic Five-Set Marathon to Marquette

Saturday, October 28

South Orange, N.J.

7:00 PM

Seton Hall University

14-12, 8-5

Marquette

17-7, 11-2

Marquette

Seton Hall

10/28/2017 11:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score HOME INFO BOX SCORE

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Sharay Barnes (Swarthmore, Pa.) and Abby Thelen (Ft. Mitchell, Ky.) combined for 41 kills, but despite a spirited effort, the Seton Hall women's volleyball team fell in five sets to Marquette, 3-2 (22-25, 35-33, 24-26, 25-23, 11-15), on Saturday.

Twice Seton Hall rallied from a set down, but ultimately fell in five sets. In arguably the closest match of the season for the Pirates, the teams combined for 34 ties in a match that lasted a season-long two hours and thirty-four minutes.

SET 1:
Seton Hall trailed for the vast majority of the set, and fell behind by a large margin before mounting a late rally. Trailing, 20-11, the Pirates went on a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to 22-20 and forced a Marquette timeout. Out of the break however, the Golden Eagles bounced back, and pulled away for a 25-22 victory.

SET 2:
The second set was the Pirates' longest of the season, and featured 15 ties and seven lead changes. The Hall again fell behind by a significant margin, but this time it was able to draw even. Trailing 15-7, Seton Hall went on a 7-1 run to cut the Golden Eagle lead to 16-14. Marquette was able to distance itself again however, and entered set point at 24-20. The Pirates rallied for five straight points, and blocks by Caitlin Koska (Franklin, Wis.) and Haylee Gasser (Mission Viejo, Calif.) put them in set point, 25-24. Marquette bounced back with two straight to re-enter set point at 26-25. From there, the Pirates were able to stave off five Marquette set points before tying the frame at 33. Then, a pair of Golden Eagle attack errors handed an epic second set to the Pirates, 35-33.

SET 3:
The third set was also close, needing more than the usual 25 points to crown a winner. Marquette jumped out to a 15-9 lead, but the Pirates methodically chipped away, and a kill by Thelen tied the set at 23 and prompted a Golden Eagles' timeout. A Marquette attack error put the Pirates in set point, but the Golden Eagles responded with three straight points to win the set, 26-24.

SET 4:
Set four featured 15 ties and six lead changes as the Pirates were able to rally again and force a decisive fifth set. Neither team held a lead of greater than two points in the fourth set. Trailing 23-22, a Marquette attack error tied the score, and back-to-back kills by Dominique Mason (Chicago, Ill.) gave the Pirates a 25-23 set four victory.

SET 5:
Marquette scored the first six points of the fifth set, and the Pirates were forced to play "catch-up" the rest of the way. Trailing 11-3, the Pirates scored six of the next eight points, and blocks by Gasser and Mason cut the Golden Eagle lead to 13-9. Marquette was able to hold on though, and won set five, 15-11.

Inside the Numbers:

Barnes had a season-high 21 kills to lead the Pirates, only four attack errors and a .395 attack percentage.
Thelen finished with 20 kills and only four attack errors.
Junior Sophia Coffey (Sierra Madre, Calif.) had a double-double with 31 assists and 18 digs.
Mason had nine kills and 20 digs.
Senior Sarah Kenneweg (Poolesville, Md.) had a match-high 26 digs to go with six assists.
Sophomore Maggie Cvelbar (Euclid, Ohio) narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 28 assists and eight digs.
Freshman Amanda Rachwal (Bethlehem, Pa.) had a career-high eight kills, only two attack errors and an attack percentage of .375.
Seton Hall recorded a .206 attack percentage for the match, while Marquette attacked at .245.
The Hall had 73 team kills, while Marquette had 80.
The Pirates totaled 90 team digs, while Marquette had 85.

News & Notes:

Seton Hall falls to 14-12 overall and 8-5 in the BIG EAST.
Marquette improves to 17-7 overall and 11-2 in the BIG EAST.
The Pirates' 35 points in the second set are the most since the NCAA changed the set win total from 30 to 25 points prior to the 2008 season. The 2:34 match time is Seton Hall's longest match in the new era as well.
Kenneweg reached the 20-dig mark for the fourth time in her career.
Mason reached the 20-dig mark for the second time in her career.
Thelen reached the 15-kill mark for the 12th time this season and the 21st time in her career.
Coffey notched her 10^th double-double of the season and the team-leading 28^th of her career.
Barnes reached the 15-kill mark for the third time this season.
The Pirates fall to 6-3 at Walsh Gym this season.
Coffey played in her 87^th consecutive match, which leads all active Pirates.
The Pirates fall to 5-15 all-time against Marquette
The Pirates drop to 3-4 in five-set matches this season.