THE RUNDOWN
The Lady Patriots (5-2) swept Cal State Monterey Bay (4-2) in their third game of the Steel City Showcase. DBU has not given up a set in back-to-back matches.
 
After jumping to a quick 5-1 lead, the Lady Patriots didn't look back. Trailing 11-6, CSMB called a timeout. DBU responded by winning 14 of the next 19 points to take the first frame. AJ Koele and Abby Phillips led the offensive charge, contributing four kills apiece in a frame where the Otters were held to only two kills. 
 
The Lady Patriots gained another 5-1 advantage in the second set and extended it to 10-5 before an Otter timeout. CSMB challenged, closing the gap to only one, 14-13, but a DBU offense with four players recording multiple kills (Lauryn Burt, Delaney Fuller, Koele, and Phillips) prohibited the Otters from completing a second set comeback.
 
CSMB gained its first lead of the match after breaking an 8-8 tie and widened it to a 3-point margin, 14-11. Following a Jordan Fish timeout, the Lady Patriots went on a 7-0 run thanks in part to kills by Koele, Lindsey Otero, and Phillips and an ace by Sadie Washburn. The Otters once again narrowed the edge to one, 19-18, but DBU claimed the ultimate set by 5.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU hit .307 against a CSMB team that was 9th in the country in opponent hitting percentage (.054).
- In each of their 3 wins this weekend, the Lady Patriots have had a hitting percentage above .300.
- DBU has recorded at least 1 service ace in 19 consecutive sets and in all but 1 set this season (5th set against Harding on August 26).
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
97 - The Lady Patriots didn't trail for 97 straight points.
8 - Five players for DBU had eight or more digs (Burt, Fuller, Kenzie McNeill, Leah Palensky, and Washburn).
.032 - DBU set a season-best opponent hitting percentage, holding the Otters to only .032 hitting.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Patriots will challenge the Wilmington Wildcats in their final match of the Steel City Showcase. The showdown is scheduled for 5:30 pm CST.
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