COLUMBUS, Ohio — D'Youville opened its weekend in Columbus with a pair of victories Friday at Alumni Hall, earning a 3-1 comeback win over Wilmington (DE) before sweeping Shawnee State, 3-0.
The Saints opened the day by overcoming an early deficit against Wilmington, rallying for a 23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-16 victory. D'Youville then carried its momentum into the second match, taking down Shawnee State, 25-18, 25-16, 25-23.
Madeline O'Brien led the Saints offensively with 28 combined kills, including a team-high 15 against Shawnee State and 13 against Wilmington. She also added eight total blocks and five aces on the day.
Cameron Ulinski turned in a standout performance against Wilmington, posting 17 kills, 20.5 points and 16 digs. She added five kills and three aces against Shawnee State.
Giselle Ramirez also played a key role in both victories, totaling 22 kills and 10 blocks while hitting .450 against Shawnee State. Ashley Ballou helped guide the Saints' offense with 52 combined assists while contributing 12 kills, 15 digs and six aces.
D'Youville showed its ability to respond to adversity throughout the day. Against Wilmington, the Saints erased a 12-7 second-set deficit with an 11-0 run, highlighted by four O'Brien kills and an ace from Ramirez, before Boglev closed the set with a block.
The Saints continued to battle in the third set, answering a 16-15 Wilmington lead with four straight points before Ulinski closed out the set with a kill. D'Youville then pulled away in the fourth, turning a 5-4 deficit into a 9-6 lead before securing the 3-1 victory.
Against Shawnee State, D'Youville overcame early deficits in the opening two sets before taking control. Ballou served three straight aces during a key first-set run, while Ulinski and Ramirez helped the Saints pull away in the third set after Shawnee State took a 16-15 lead.
Lauren Scully anchored the defensive effort against Shawnee State with 15 digs and three aces as D'Youville completed the sweep.
The Saints finished the day 2-0, collecting a pair of victories to open their weekend in Columbus.
D'Youville looks to carry momentum into tomorrow's pair of games, starting with a matchup against tournament host Ohio Dominican University at 12:15 pm.
