BUFFALO, N.Y. – The D'Youville University Women's Volleyball team earned a split in their final day pf the D'Youville University Tournament. The Saints dropped the first match 3-0 to Gannon University but earned their first win of the season after defeating Ursuline College 3-0.

Game One – Gannon University 3 vs D'Youville University 0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-12)
Set One
D'Youville started out on top against the Golden Knights leading 8-7 after two kills from Madeline O'Brien (East Amherst, NY. / Clarence). Gannon put together an eight-point run to take a big lead, but the Saints stayed in it. Kills from O'Brien and Cameron Ulinski (Parkland, FL / Marjory Stoneman Douglas) along with an ace from Emma Wlostowski (Alden, N.Y. / Alden) brought the Saints within three at 15-12. As the Golden Knights continued to climb, the Saints kept chipping away, but Gannon reached game point with the Saints at 18. Madeline O'Brien and Alex Darby (Huntington, W.V. / Spring Valley) tacked on two more kills before the Golden Knights took set one 25-20.

Set Two
A kill from Maddie Boglev (Hamburg, N.Y. / St. Mary's) put the Saints ahead 10-8, but again the Golden Knights put together a run to take the 11-10 lead. The Saints immediately fought back and the lead was exchanged between both teams. As the Saints and Golden Knights continued to climb, they found themselves tied at 22 following a kill from Ulinski. The Golden Knights took back the momentum scoring three straight points to take the second set 25-22.

Set Three
Gannon controlled the third set, jumping 9-3. The Saints got three back following a Golden Knight error and kills from Darby and O'Brien, but the Golden Knights continued to extend their lead until they led 24-9. The Saints fought to stay alive, but a final ace from Wlostowski was not enough and Gannon would take the third set 25-12 and the match 3-0.

Top Dog
Madeline O'Brien hit her stride in game one of the tournament today. The Sophomore recorded 11 kills and one block.

Game Two – Ursuline College 0 vs D'Youville University 3 (23-25, 13-25, 20-25)
Set One
The Arrows jumped up 4-2 to start the match, but a service ace from Kendal Haberer (Derby, N.Y. / Lake Shore) and kills from Alex Darby and Giselle Ramirez (Miami, FL / School for Advanced Studies) put the Saints in the lead. The Saints and Arrows remained neck and neck throughout the match until the score tied at 22. Madeline O'Brien came up with a kill followed by a big service ace from Samantha Killane (Vero Beach, FL / Lincoln Park Academy) to put the Saints ahead by two. Alex Darby provided the final kill for the Saints giving them the 25-23 win over Ursuline in the first set.

Set Two
D'Youville had their best start all season in set two scoring seven consecutive points to start the game. After allowing one point to the arrows, they delivered another three-point run. With the set at 12-4 in the Saints favor, DYU managed another six-point run to further extend their lead to 18-4. Ursuline attempted to fight back scoring five in a row, but two final kills from Alex Darby and a serving ace from Emma Wlostowski wrapped up set two with a 25-13 win over Ursuline.

Set Three
The Third set started even, but with the game tied at eight, D'Youville went on a six-point run to take the 14-8 lead. Ursuline again fought to stay in the game but back-to-back kills from O'Brien plus an Arrows error put the Saints ahead at 20-13. The teams continued to exchange points, but a final kill from Alex Darby got the Saints to 25 and they took the 25-20 win in set three and the 3-0 match win.

Top Dog:
Mitha Hatwar (Columbus, Ohio / Olentangy Liberty) earned a season-high 35 assists while also recording five kills and four digs.