Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Furman University
Trojans Drop First Five Set Match of Season
9/5/2009 8:15:00 PM | Volleyball
MACON, Ga. - The Trojans couldn't come away from the Bear Brawl with a winning record as they fell to Furman in a five set thriller, dropping their weekend record to 1-2 and their season record to 3-4.
The Trojans were able to stretch the Paladins (5-1), a 2008 NCAA Tournament team, to their limits, despite not having their leader in kills on the season in Meghan Gilroy.
"We played really well and I couldn't be happier," said head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick, "We played the hardest we've played all season."
Freshman Devin Von Pingel played the best match of her short career in the absence of Gilroy. She posted 16 kills with just two errors, giving her a .400 attack percentage.
"Devin was outstanding," Kirkpatrick said, "we changed our rotation to try and get her matched up the way we wanted, and Furman didn't have an answer for her."
Another freshman, Kayla Giles, was the only other Trojan with double digit kills with 10. Sophomore Brittany McClelland stood out for the Trojans defensively posting one block solo and five block assists. Megan Henderson posted 38 assists.
Troy had three players in double digits in digs. Henderson posted 13 while fellow junior Emily Strader led the team with 15. Freshman Lizzie Clough also posted double digits with 14.
The Trojans used four separate runs of at least three consecutive points to pull away from the Paladins and take the first set 25-14. Von Pingel spiked down seven of her kills in the first set to pace the Trojans.
In the second set, the Trojans couldn't score two consecutive points until they decreased their deficit from seven to five at 8-13. Troy got as close as three at 16-19, but lost six of the last eight points and fell to Furman in set two, 18-25.
The third set was much closer than the first two as the two teams traded long runs. The Trojans jumped out to the early 4-1 lead and lead by as many as six as late as 17-11. However, the Paladins scored 10 of the next 12 to pull ahead, 19-21. At that time the Trojans called a timeout.
After the break, the Trojans won three straight points to pull back ahead, 22-21. Furman then scored two straight to pull ahead, 22-23, before the Trojans took the next three, and the set, 25-23.
In the fourth set, the Paladins had three runs of three consecutive points and one four point run to help even the match up with a 16-25 fourth set victory.
In the deciding fifth set, the two teams were tied as late as 9-9. At that point, Furman took three of four to pull ahead 10-12, forcing the Trojans to call a timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Trojans ran a play to Von Pingel who put a solid hit on the ball. However, the referee determined that the ball sailed wide of the line on what was a very controversial call. The Trojans disputed that a Paladin tipped the ball at the net, but to no avail, and Furman pulled ahead 10-13.
The Paladins took two of the next three to win the set, 11-15, and the match, 2-3.
The five set match was the Trojans first of the season, and despite the loss, Kirkpatrick was very pleased with his teams effort.
"If we continue to play at that level, we'll do very well the rest of this season," he said.
The Trojans will be back in action on Tuesday when they play in front of their home crowd for the first time this season. Troy will take on Samford at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Trojan Arena. Check back with TroyTrojans.com for more news and notes from the court as well as all of Troy Athletics.
