DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (2-0 Overall) opened the 2017 season on Friday with a pair of victories as the Warriors hosted the Warrior Invitational for the second consecutive season inside the Matthaei.  WSU topped Ohio Dominican (0-2 Overall) in three sets during the afternoon contest before sweeping Minnesota State-Mankato (1-1 Overall) during the night cap.  The tournament continues on Saturday as WSU will meet Wisconsin-Parkside and Gannon.

MATCH ONE vs. OHIO DOMINICAN (W, 3-0 / 25-19, 25-17, 25-13)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A service ace from Haley Tenelshof (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Jenison) followed by an ODU attack error put the home team up 7-2 to begin the first set.  Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron) collected a kill and Grace Frazee (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) followed with an ace of her own to extend WSU's advantage to 11-5.  A 3-0 run highlighted by a point from Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) put WSU on top 15-7 and the Warriors would lead 18-12 after another Panther error.  Michelle Asiedu (Holland, Ohio / Springfield) got in on the action and gave WSU a 24-17 lead before an ODU service error ended the first set.

- Hannah Moore (Louisville, Ky. / Assumption) found her swing early in game two and gave WSU an 8-4 lead.  The Warriors would use a 5-0 run to stretch their lead to 19-9 before cruising to a 25-17 victory capped by kills from Asiedu and Krenz.

- WSU led 9-5 in the third set after back-to-back points from Moore.  Richardson notched an ace and Moore tallied another kill to give WSU a 17-9 lead.  ODU would not mount a comeback as Wayne State went on to win 25-13.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Richardson led the team with nine kills, while Asiedu hit .538 while collecting her eight kills.  In her collegiate debut Natalie Breault (Bad Axe, Mich.) dished out 26 assists.  Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) made a triumphant return from last season's injury to lead the team with 11 digs.

MATCH TWO vs. MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO (W, 3-0 / 25-20, 25-21, 25-22)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In what was a back-and-forth affair all night, WSU led the first set 6-4 after two errors by the Mavericks.  MSU went on a 4-0 run to take a 14-10 advantage but the Green & Gold responded with a 6-1 rally to regain the lead 16-15.  A kill from Richardson and a MSU ball handling error put WSU on top 22-19.  The visiting Mavericks would take the next point before the Warriors won three starlight to end the set.

- The second set was another tightly contested match but the led 8-7 after a point from Richardson.  Back-to-back errors by MSU staked WSU to an 11-9 lead.  Frazee kept the Warriors' cushion in tact with a kill, making the score 14-11.  A kill from Krenz extended that lead to 18-13.  The Mavs would pull within one on two occasions down the stretch 19-18 and 22-21 but WSU always found an answer.  The Warriors won the final three points to take a 2-0 match lead.

- MSU started fast in the third set and led 4-2 and eventually 10-5.  A 7-1 run by the home team put the Warriors up 13-12.  The rally concluded with a kill and an ace from Richardson.  The momentum stayed with the Warriors as another run (6-1) stretched WSU's lead to 19-14.  MSU never got closer than two the rest of the set as the Green & Gold collected the final point to win 25-22.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Richardson finished with a match-high 15 kills, while hitting .290.  Krenz also finished with double-digit kills at 12, hitting .500 for the contest.  Breault continued her strong play with 33 assists and aided in the defense with 11 digs.

HOME SWEET HOME
- Last season, WSU went 9-3 inside the Matthaei and are off to a good start in 2017 winning both matches on Friday.  The 13 home matches for WSU this season is the most in program history.

UP NEXT
- Wayne State will play Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday beginning at 1:30 p.m. before concluding the event at 6:00 p.m. against Gannon.  An All-Tournament Team will be named after the final match of the day.