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7 PM
Volleyball
at Georgia Tech
Saturday, August 28
Boulder, Colo.
8:30 p.m.
Duke University
3
vs
2
Colorado
Burling Leads Duke to 3-2 Win Over Colorado
8/28/2010 10:19:00 PM | Volleyball
BOULDER, Colo. - Becci Burling matched a career high with 18 kills to lead Duke to a 3-2 (25-18, 26-28, 18-25, 25-16, 15-10) comeback win over Colorado during the Coors Rocky Mountain Challenge on Saturday evening in the Coors Event Center.
Burling, a native of Monument, Colo., posted a .314 hitting percentage and three blocks in a return to her home state. With Duke trailing 2-1 and facing elimination in set four, the 6-1 senior came through with five kills on seven attacks to force a deciding fifth set.
Duke (1-1) completed the comeback in the final game, thanks to the play of junior middle blocker Amanda Robertson, who went 3-for-3 attacking in set five while also posting a solo block. Robertson did not make a single attack error for the entire match, finishing 9-for-15 with a .600 hitting percentage and three blocks.
The Blue Devil middle blocking trio of Burling, Robertson and Christiana Gray proved too much for Colorado as those three combined for 37 kills and a .394 hitting percentage. With at least three blocks apiece, the trio helped to hold the Buffaloes to a .115 hitting percentage for the match while holding them under .200 for every set. Freshman libero Ali McCurdy also had a hand in the defensive effort, collecting 20 digs in her second career match.
The Blue Devils took the opening set 25-18, thanks to a balanced attack that featured four kills each from Burling, Robertson and Sophia Dunworth. Led by setter Kellie Catanach, who dished out 14 of her 55 assists in the opening game, Duke hit .367 while holding the Buffaloes to a .111 clip. Sophomore outside hitter Megan Hendrickson capped the first-set victory with back-to-back kills, including the set-winner.
Colorado managed to shut down the Duke offense in game two, however, holding the Blue Devils to a .167 hitting percentage on the way to a match-tying 28-26 win. The Buffaloes' defensive dominance continued into the third set when they held Duke to a -.029 clip to claim a 2-1 advantage with a 25-18 win. Colorado's Anicia Santos led the way offensively, going 5-for-10 with no errors in game two.
Duke rallied in the fourth frame, riding a 5-for-7 showing from Burling to a 25-16 match-tying victory. Claire Smalzer also chipped in four kills as the Blue Devils stifled Colorado's offense to a .094 hitting percentage.
With the match tied at 2-2 and one set remaining, both teams battled to a 5-5 tie. Robertson came up big for Duke, however, with a kill and a solo block on consecutive plays. Duke rode that lead all the way to the end, winning the final game 15-10 to take the match.
Duke will make its home debut on Tuesday, August 31, against Campbell in Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7 p.m. Admission to the match is free.
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Players Mentioned
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OH
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