Midzik Goes for Highest Block Total for Ivy Leaguer This Season

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The Bulldogs used a spirited effort before a lively home crowd in a 3-1 win over Penn on Friday night at the John J. Lee Amphitheater.

Yale used a season-high 16 total blocks and snapped a two-match losing skid with inspired play in arguably the best home court advantage in the Ivy League.  The Bulldogs are 31-1 at home in conference matches since 2011.  

The final scores of tonight's match were 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 25-23.  Yale improved to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while Penn dropped to 3-3 in the Ivy League and 9-9 overall.

"We gutted this one out tonight," Yale head coach Erin Appleman said.  "We played some of our best volleyball this season and made some big plays."

Senior Maya Midzik led Yale's charge with 11 total blocks, the highest total for an Ivy Leaguer this season, and added 11 kills.  Kelley Wirth had a match-high 16 kills with six digs in four block assists, while Brittani Steinberg added a double-double with 16 digs and 10 kills.  

The fourth and deciding set featured a 9-0 run for Yale that turned a 13-11 deficit into a seven-point lead.  Midzik went back to back with block assists, first with Steinberg, then with Kelly Johnson to tie the set.  After a Penn error, Midzik and Johnson had another block.  Midzik followed with a kill to make it 16-13.  Midzik capped the run with another block assist with Steinberg and a kill.  

Penn came back, but the Bulldogs again had an answer.  Midzik tied the match with a kill set up by Johnson, who finished with 34 assists.  

Senior Jesse Ebner sealed the match with the final three points -- a block assist with Wirth and two kills. Ebner finished with six kills and five blocks.  

Penn kept the match going by taking the third set.  The Quakers jumped out to a 9-1 lead.  Johnson sparked the Bulldogs and cut the deficit to five after a desperate over-the-shoulder save 

The second set featured five ties and four lead changes.  Midzik came through late with strong play at the net and three total blocks in the set. Midzik teamed with Brittani Steinberg for block assists to give Yale a 22-21 lead.   Steinberg had four kills and six digs in the set.

Penn responded with the next two points retake the lead at 23-22.  A Penn error tied the set, and Midzik followed with a solo block to give Yale the lead.  The set ended on a Penn error. 

Yale took the lead midway through the first set thanks to two kills from Wirth to snap a 14-all tie and give Yale a two-point edge.  The Bulldogs scored the last three points of the set with kills from Johnson, Ebner and an ace from Kate Swanson to close it out. Wirth led the Bulldogs with five kills, while Midzik had two solo blocks in the set. 

The Bulldogs will host Princeton tomorrow at 5 p.m.  The Tigers defeated Brown in five tonight and stand 3-3 overall in the conference.