ASHLAND, OH – The D'Youville University Women's Volleyball team opened their season with the first day of tournament play at Ashland University. The Saints fell 3-0 in their first match against Ashland University and dropped their second match 3-1 to West Liberty University.

Game One – D'Youville University 0 at Ashland University 3 (12-25, 17-25, 18-25)
Set One
Ashland got out to a quick start jumping up 4-0. Giselle Ramirez (Miami, FL / School for Advanced Studies) recorded the first kill of the year for the Saints to bring the score to 7-3. Madeline O'Brien (East Amherst, N.Y. / Clarence) recorded back-to-back kills to bring the score to 11-6. Ashland continued to control the game on offense and would take set one 25-12.

Set Two
Ashland took the early 4-0 lead again in set two but kills from Maddie Boglev (Hamburg, N.Y. / St. Mary's) and Isabelle Prentice (Bainbridge, Wash. / Bainbridge) both recorded kills to bring the score to 8-4. As gameplay continued, Alex Darby (Huntington, W.V. / Spring Valley) recorded a kill along with two errors from Ashland to bring the Saints within one at 13-12. Ashland would go on two bug runs to extend their lead. Mitha Hatwar (Columbus, OH / Olentangy Liberty) recorded a kill and Samantha Killane (Vero Beach, FL / Lincoln Park Academy) provided a service ace to make the score 22-16, but Ashland would go on to win the set 25-17.

Set Three
A kill from Isabelle Prentice and an Ashland error led to a tight 2-2 game in set three. Ashland would go on a four-point run to take the lead, but the Saints worked to stay in the game. Kills from Madeline O'Brien, Giselle Ramirez, and newcomer Cameron Ulinski (Parkland, FL / Marjory Stoneman Douglas) kept the Saints close, but two more big runs put Ashland ahead again 23-14. The Saints fighting to stay alive pieced together a four-point run including a service ace from Emma Wlostowski (Alden, N.Y. / Alden), but it was not enough to stop Ashland's offense and they would win set three 25-18 and take the match in three sets.

Top Dog
Giselle Ramirez was strong for the Saints in their first match of the day. The Sophomore recorded eight kills and two blocks in her first match of the season.

Game Two – West Liberty University 3 vs D'Youville University 1 (25-21, 25-23, 20-25, 25-23)
Set One
A kill from Cameron Ulinski and an ace from Emma Wlostowski put the Saints ahead 2-0 in set one. The Saints continued to extend their lead and a kill from Sophomore, Madeline O'Brien brought DYU ahead 8-6. West Liberty went on a 5-1 run to take the lead. As points were exchanged between teams a kill from Alex Darby brought the game to a tie at 18. West Liberty put together two more runs and finished the first set 25-21.

Set Two
West Liberty took the lead first in set two, but a strong kill from Cameron Ulinski tied the game at eight. West Liberty quickly retook the lead to go on a run, but the Saints stayed in the fight. A kill from Giselle Ramirez and two West Liberty errors retied the game at 17. Gameplay continued back and forth, but West Liberty managed a four-point run to take set two 25-23.

Set Three
The Saints found their footing in set three and after a kill from Giselle Ramirez and a service ace from Lauren Scully (Royal Palm Beach, FL / Wellington), the Saints jumped out to a 7-4 lead. West Liberty stayed close, but a four-point run featuring a kill and a service ace from Alex Darby kept the Saints ahead at 21-14. West Liberty went on a five-point run of their own, but a kill from Isabelle Prentice ended it and a final error from West Liberty gave the Saints the 25-20 win over West liberty to stay alive.

Set Four
D'Youville kept their momentum going into the fourth set and quickly got ahead 8-7. A three-point run including kills from newcomers Alex Darby and Cameron Ulinski extended the Saints lead to 11-7. The Saints continued in their lead going up 21-17. West Liberty put together a five-point run before tying the set at 22. West liberty took the lead, but a quick kill from Giselle Ramirez retied the game at 23. West liberty would go on to take the final two points to win the third set 25-23 and the match 3-1.

Top Dog:
Newcomer Alex Darby stepped up on offense in the Saints second match of the day recording 15 kills. Darby was also a key player on the Saints defense recording 13 digs and two blocks.