Troy Volleyball Falls In Conference Opener

Friday, September 24

Lafayette, LA

5:00 p.m.

Troy University

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Photo by: Troy University

Troy Volleyball Falls In Conference Opener

9/24/2010 7:41:26 PM | Volleyball

Trojans return to action and close out weekend at ULM

By: Brynna Waters

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. - The Troy University volleyball team fell in their conference opener to Louisiana-Lafayette Friday night 3-1 (15-25, 25-13, 26-28, 25-27).

"We had chances to extend the match tonight." Coach Sonny Kirkpatrick said, 'We had the leads late in the third and fourth sets, but they played when we didn't."

Troy (6-10) was led on the night by junior Natasha Kolunija and sophomore Devin Von Pingel. Kolunija recorded eight kills and a .263 attack percentage for the Trojans, while Von Pingel recorded nine kills and had a .148 attack percentage in four sets.

In the first set, the Ragin Cajuns jump out in front of the Trojans, before a pair of kills from junior Brittany McClelland brought Troy to within two of ULL at 9-7. The Ragin' Cajuns were able to hold their lead until a rally of kills from Kolunija and Von Pingel took the Trojans to within four at 16-12, but the effort fell short and Louisiana-Lafayette was able to pull away with the set victory.

Troy saw very different results in the second set, as they were able to jump out to a 10 point lead with kills from McClelland, Kolunija, Von Pingel, and sophomore Kayla Giles. The Ragin' Cajuns tried to form a rally, but this time their steam was not enough and kills from McClelland, Von Pingel, and Kolunija were able to secure the Trojan victory.

Coming out of intermission, the Trojans took the early lead in the third set with kills from Von Pingel and McClelland, and a pair of service aces from Giles. Troy was able to keep the lead through most of the set, until the Cajuns were able to tie them at 23-23. From this point the set was a fight to the finish, kills from McClelland and senior Victoria Rogochewsky kept Troy in the race until Louisiana-Lafayette was able to come out with the victory.

The fourth set saw the Trojans fighting tooth and nails with the Ragin' Cajuns from the first point. The set was tied fourteen times before a pair of kills from Kolunija put Troy on top 21-19. A rally effort from Louisiana-Lafayette tied the set once more, this time at 24-24. From this tie the Ragin' Cajuns were able to take the victory and the match from the Trojans.

Troy will now travel to Monroe, Louisiana where they will face conference foe ULM tomorrow at 2 p.m.

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