DENVER, Colo. – SIUE volleyball battled through a pair of tough matches to close out the Denver Invitational, falling to Marist University in five sets Friday, and dropping a four-set decision to Idaho Saturday.
The Cougars claimed the first and third sets against Marist to take a 2-1 lead, but the Red Foxes responded by taking the fourth set and rallying from behind in the fifth to secure the win. SIUE held the statistical advantage in several categories, recording more points, aces, blocks, assists and digs, but it was SIUE's 30 errors compared to Marist's 19 that proved difficult to overcome.
Kennedy Pike led the Cougars against Marist with a career-high 15 kills, while freshman
Georgia Bresnahan recorded SIUE's first double-double of the season with 12 kills and 13 digs.
SIUE returned to the court Saturday against Idaho, claiming another opening set 25-20, before the Vandals would go on to win the next three sets to close out the match and tournament.
Bresnahan again led the way for SIUE, recording a career-high 14 kills and 13 digs for her second consecutive double-double.
Paige Bernstein added 24 assists, while
Anika Ivester recorded a team-high two blocks in the match. As a team, the Cougars finished with 51 kills, 48 assists, 54 digs, three service aces and three blocks.
SIUE returns to action next weekend at home, hosting the SIUE Cougar Classic, facing Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Chicago State Friday, Sept. 11, before closing out the tournament against Northern Illinois Saturday, Sept. 12.
