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The Truman volleyball team split its matches on day one of the 2012 Days Inn Truman Invitational, downing McKendree (Ill.) 3-0 (-15, -19, -20) in the opener before falling 3-0 (-22, -19, -22) to No. 7 Minnesota-Duluth in the nightcap.
 
The Bulldogs (1-1) opened the 2012 season with a bang by pounding a .310 hitting percentage and cruising past McKendree (0-2) in three sets.

Freshman Ali Patterson debuted with an 11-kill, six-dig, two-ace outing for 13 points, while seniors Heather Hargadine (10 kills, 10 digs) and Megan Sharpe (eight kills, 2 aces) also reached the double-digit point mark with 10 each.

Truman hit .500 in the opening set and .441 in the closing frame to shut down the Bearcats, who hit just .138 and rarely threatened the home squad.
 
In the nightcap, the Bulldogs struggled offensively against No. 7 Duluth (2-0) and were swept in three.

Patterson again led the ’Dogs in kills with eight; however, both Sharpe and fellow senior middle blocker Emily Briseno  added seven kills and combined for 10 blocks.

Sophomore setter Meghan Zimmerman had her second double-double of the day, closing the match with 29 assists and a dozen digs, while sophomore libero Abby Moser  dug 22 UMD attacks and added an ace.

Truman hit just .130 in the match, but out-dug UMD by two and out-blocked Duluth 11-6.
 
Truman returns to action on Saturday (Sept. 1) with two more matches, beginning with a 1:15 showdown against Winona (Minn.) State (1-1) at 1:15 pm before taking on Missouri-St. Louis (0-2) at 7:30 pm.

Courtesy Truman State University