DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (4-2 overall) started play in the 2018 Warrior Invitational on Friday afternoon by sweeping Kentucky State (1-6 overall) and followed with a four-set defeat to Illinois Springfield (4-2 overall).

MATCH ONE vs. KENTUCKY STATE (W, 3-0 / 25-12, 25-21, 25-7)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors captured the first seven points of the opening set.  Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron) began the match with three straight kills.  A solo block from Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) pushed the home advantage to 11-1 and WSU led 16-3 following a Kentucky State attacking error.  Another KSU error made it 18-4 and the Green & Gold would go on to win 25-12.

- The Thorobreds performed better in the second set and were tied at 6-6 early in the contest.  KSU led 9-8 before WSU responded with three consecutive points, including back-to-back blocks from Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) and Olivia Fike (North Branch, Mich.).  The visitors hung tough and took a 16-14 lead but the Warriors would regain their momentum and lead 20-18 after a 4-0 run.  WSU went on to win 25-21.

- Wayne State imposed its will in the third set leading 12-3, powered by an 8-0 rally.  Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) notched a kill and pushed the home lead to 21-6 as the Warriors would cruise to a 25-7 victory and a 3-0 sweep.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Wagner paced the offense with 10 kills as eight Warriors tallied a kill.  Duffield finished with 28 assists, while Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) collected 10 digs to lead the defensive efforts.

TEAM STATS
- WSU hit .304 compared to KSU's -.045 and tallied six total team blocks.  The Warriors hit an impressive .471 during the third set.

MATCH TWO vs. ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD (L, 1-3 / 20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 21-25)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UIS controlled the majority of the opening set, leading 10-3.  The Warriors pulled within five, 16-11, following a Prairie Stars attacking error.  However, UIS would lead 21-14 and hold off a late WSU charge to win 25-20.

- WSU trailed 6-4 early in the second set but back-to-back kills from Richardson and a UIS error gave the Warriors a 9-7 advantage.  Propelled by kills from Krenz and Fike, the home lead grew to 14-10 and another point from Krenz extended the margin to five at 17-12.  UIS stormed back with a 4-0 run to trim deficit to one, 18-17.  Richardson slowed the Prairie Stars' momentum with a kill, giving Wayne State a 23-20 lead.  After seeing its lead shrink to one, 23-22, the Green & Gold won the final two points to tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-22 triumph.

- Illinois Springfield notched the first seven points of the third set and eventually led 13-6.  A point from Fike pulled WSU within three, 13-10, but UIS continued to play well, leading 19-13.  Julia Malewicz (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Academy for International Studies / Henry Ford II) came off the bench to make an impact and trimmed the visitors' lead to 19-16 with a point of her own.  Wayne State could never string enough points together to pull even with UIS and the Prairie Stars won 22-22.

- It appeared that the Warriors had flipped the switch to begin the fourth set as a Rodriguez service ace gave WSU a 5-3 lead to begin the set.  Wayne State held onto a slim 9-8 lead before UIS rattled off am 8-0 run that would be too much to overcome as Illinois Springfield would go on to win 25-21.  A late flurry of offense from WSU would make things interesting as the Warriors used an 8-1 run to cut the margin to one, 22-21, before UIS won the final three points

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Three Warriors finished with 10 or more kills, led by Richardson's 16.  Krenz tallied 12, while Grace Frazee (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) added 11.  Duffield dished out a season-best 47 assists, while Rodriguez led the defense with 17 digs.  Richardson posted a double-double, adding 12 digs to her kill total.  Haley Tenelshof (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Jenison) was effective, finishing with 10 digs.

UP NEXT
- Wayne State will continue action in the Warrior Invitational on Saturday against Illinois Springfield (12:30 p.m.) and Tiffin (5:30 p.m.).