By Patrick Stumpf
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay volleyball team began its final home stand of the 2015 regular season at the Kress Center on Friday night, dropping a straight-set decision to Valparaiso (26-28, 21-25, 17-25) on Parent's Night.
The Crusaders grabbed a six-point lead in the early stages at 11-5, but Green Bay responded on a 9-2 run over the next 11 points to take its first lead of the match, 14-13. The Phoenix got to 20 first following a block, and added to its lead after a kill by freshman outside hitter Jessica Wolf made it 21-19. Despite positioning itself well in the latter stages, however, Valparaiso mounted a rally to force extra time before eventually winning a hard-fought opening set, 28-26.
Green Bay pulled within three points midway through the second frame at 15-12 as it sought to even things up going into intermission, but the Crusaders once again showed its mettle down the stretch, taking the next two sets, 25-21 and 25-17, respectively.
The Phoenix, who entered the night in sole possession of fifth place in the Horizon League with three matches to play, were looking to knock off third-place Valparaiso for a second consecutive time this season after sweeping the Crusaders back on Oct. 10 in Indiana.
Senior libero Jillian Bauer continued her strong play in her final campaign, recording 28 digs in the three sets to set a new-season high, falling one dig shy of tying Brittany Groth's program record in a three-set game (29, Aug. 25, 2012 vs. Auburn).
Sophomore Abby Jeffcoat and Wolf paced the hitting-effort for Green Bay, each notching 10 kills, while senior setter Emily Riese (37 assists/11 digs) produced yet another double-double.
Valparaiso's Emily Campbell (match-high 15 kills) and Allison Ketcham (14 kills) finished with 29 of the Crusaders 41 kills as a team on the night, hitting .289 (15-of-38) and .245 (14-of-49), respectively.
UP NEXT
Green Bay will be right back at it tomorrow afternoon, as it welcomes the UIC Flames for a 4 p.m. start time. Before the match, the five seniors on this year's team: Jillian Bauer, Taylor Kasal, Becca Mastey, Emily Riese and student assistant Hunter Huntley will be honored before the match as part of “Senior Day.”
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