INDIANA, Pa. – Seniors Jess Marut and Breanna Damiani combined for 33 digs, but the back-end defensive effort wasn't enough as IUP women's volleyball lost a three-set match to 19th-ranked Wheeling Jesuit Tuesday night at the Memorial Field House.
 
Marut's 19 digs were her most in the last six matches while Damiani hit a season-high with 14 digs on the evening.
 
The visiting Cardinals, who improved to 12-3 overall, won by scores of 25-17, 25-8 and 25-15.
 
The Crimson Hawks (4-11) improved on their recent first set production against WLU as they finished with 14 kills on 39 total attacks. The increase in hitting efficiency was matched by the Cardinals, however, who had just one hitting error and hit .375 in the first set to grab a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
WJU dominated the second set by again hitting over .300 while forcing IUP into eight hitting errors compared to four kills. The Crimson Hawks fell behind by nine early in the final set before battling back to within four at 18-14, eventually giving way to the Cardinals.
 
Junior Jessica Ignace led the Crimson Hawks with nine kills, while sophomore setter Dominica Niccolai had 23 assists and a pair of service aces. She and freshman Kylie Osborn each had three block assists.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks are on the road this weekend for a pair of matches against PSAC Central opponents, including Bloomsburg (4-7, 0-2) Friday night and Lock Haven (5-6, 0-2) Saturday afternoon.   
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPVB.