Noah Fries | staff writer

The Duquesne volleyball team split its first weekend of conference matches against Virginia Commonwealth University at Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia, before falling to Dayton at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on Tuesday. The 1-2 record on the week takes the Dukes’ record to 9-5 with a 1-2 conference record.

Sophomore outside hitter Emerson Schrom was once again the standout for Duquesne, totaling 35 kills, 27 digs, four blocks and three aces throughout the week.

Junior setter Chloe Wilmot continued her dominance with another two matches with 30-plus assists to add to her Division I-leading mark of assists per set. Wilmot also notched her seventh double-double of the year in the second VCU match with 45 assists and 12 digs.

In the first VCU match on Friday, the Rams dominated Duquesne from the start. VCU led by as much as eight in the set, while the Dukes’ largest lead was just one. VCU took the first set 25-20.

The Dukes roared back in set two, taking advantage of numerous VCU errors to take the 25-18 set win. Duquesne also hit .313 in the set, its most efficient of the match.

Despite fighting back to even the match, it wouldn’t be enough for the Dukes. The Rams were much more efficient and effective over the next two sets and won both (25-18, 25-17) as well as the match.

Schrom was the only Duke in double-figures for kills with 17, also adding 10 digs. Senior middle blocker Ariel Helm and freshman outside hitter Karli Jordan each added seven kills as well. Regardless of outcome, the Dukes still feel confident in their team’s abilities.

“I think our team unity is really good,” Schrom said. “I think we’re all really good friends with each other outside the court. I think that needs to continue, and we need to continue to play intentional, bring the intensity. And playing for the person next to you is the biggest thing.”

In the second match against the Rams, the Dukes looked primed for a bounce-back performance after a dominant 25-18 win in the first set. Duquesne won the first point of the set and never looked back — they led for the entire set, thanks to dominant showings from Helm and Schrom.

Duquesne looked to continue their dominance in set two, leading 17-11 late in the set. However, a big run for the Rams knotted the game at 20, and a 5-0 run led to the set win for VCU.

Looking to take back the lead, the Dukes had an extremely balanced attack in set three. Duquesne got kills from all five of its attackers in the set, and a big service run from junior middle blocker Jordan Robertson gave the Dukes a 2-1 set advantage.

A 6-0 run to start the fourth set for VCU gave the Rams a lead, but they were not able to protect it. Duquesne stormed back from the defecit, forcing a decisive fifth set.

The Dukes never wavered. A completely dominant showing with 10 kills in a set that only goes to 15 gave the Dukes their first conference win of the 2025 season after a 15-8 clinching-set victory.

Schrom (18), Helm (11) and Jordan (11) led the Dukes in kills, with Helm hitting an extremely efficient .647. Senior libero Madison Grimm tallied 11 digs and a season-high seven assists, while senior defensive specialist Maggie Colenbrander added 10 digs of her own.

“I had a bit of a drop in play for a bit and I just had to get my mental together, get in my Bible and stuff like that,” Jordan said. “But knowing that my coaches have that trust in me to get back has definitely helped, and being steady for my team feels great as a freshman.”

In the last match of the week, the Dukes took on the Dayton Flyers, who came into the match on a 40-game conference winning streak. Dayton came out extremely hot in the first set, hitting .419 with 16 kills on its way to a 25-18 set win.

The Dukes wouldn’t let up, battling back-and-forth with the Flyers in the second set. A late run by Colenbrander from the service line gave the Dukes a 23-22 advantage, but Dayton came back with the final three points to win the set.

The Dukes displayed extreme resilience in sets two and three, but it wasn’t enough. After falling 25-22 in set three, the Dukes took their first three-set loss of the season. Consistency and balance will become key for the Dukes as they soon embark on a five-game road trip.

“We got production from everybody in that fifth set against VCU, and that’s been the key for us for the most part,” Opperman said. “If we keep things more balanced and not rely too much on Emmy, then good things happen.”

Noah Fries can be reached at friesn@duq.edu