DAYTON, Ohio – For the third consecutive season, the Green Bay volleyball team is headed to the Horizon League Semifinal tomorrow after downing No. 5 Purdue Fort Wayne in today's HL Quarterfinal 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24).
Friday's close win was led by a 12-kill, 11-block double-double performance from Horizon League All-Freshman Team member Diane Pichelman. Cora Behnke also added 14 kills while Danilynn Schell had 13. Abby Gardner was outstanding defensively, finishing with a season-high 26 digs. Calli Gentry had 44 assists to help the Phoenix attackers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Green Bay never trailed in the opening set after jumping out to a 12-4 lead. PFW battled back to bring it to within two, but a Behnke kill closed it out for GB 25-22.
SET 2 | The Mastodons bounced back in the second set with their own 25-22 win. After leading 10-9, PFW scored five of the next six points to take a commanding 15-10 lead that would end up being the difference.
SET 3 | The third set was a back-and-forth battle the entire way. Purdue Fort Wayne fought back with a 3-0 to make it 19-18 Green Bay before the Phoenix responded with a 5-0 run of their own to put them on match points. GB's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking five PFW attacks in the stanza.
SET 4 | Green Bay kept the momentum going, ending the match with a 26-24 fourth-set win to secure the HL Semifinal berth. The Phoenix had to battle back after falling behind 12-6. After still trailing at 24-22, the Green & White scored the last four points of the match.
GAME NOTES
» Katie Schulz finished the match with 11 kills.
» Green Bay had four players in double figures in digs.
» PFW was led by 16 kills from the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year Panna Ratkai.
» Diane Pichelman had a career-high 11 blocks.
» GB outhit PFW .201 to .164.
ON DECK
The Phoenix will take on the reigning Horizon League Champion Wright State Raiders tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT for a chance at a Horizon League Championship appearance.
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