DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (9-5, 5-1 GLIAC) saw its five-match winning streak come to an end against Northern Michigan (11-3, 5-1 GLIAC) on Friday night inside the Matthaei.  The Wildcats came into the contest receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll and won sets two, three and four to give the Warriors their first league defeat.  WSU took set one 25-20 before NMU captured the next three by scores of 25-20, 25-16 and 29-27.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- A combo block from Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) and Grace Frazee (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) gave WSU a 6-2 lead to begin the first set.  A point from Hannah Moore (Louisville,  Ky. / Assumption) put the Green & Gold up 13-12.  A 5-1 run by the Warriors extended the home lead to 21-16 and WSU would hold on to win 25-20.

- Natalie Breault (Bad Axe, Mich.) gave Wayne State a 4-3 advantage in the second game with a kill but NMU answered and held onto a 9-8 lead.  The Wildcats stretched their lead to 15-11 but WSU cut NMU's lead to 19-18 on a Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron) service ace.  Northern Michigan controlled the rest of the set and won 25-20.

- NMU set the tone early in the third set and led 10-2, forcing head coach Tim Koth to use both of his timeouts.  The deficit was 10 at 17-7 before the Warriors began to find their swing.  However, NMU led 23-13 before three straight points from WSU, including two kills and a solo block from Moore trimmed NMU's lead to 23-16.  The Wildcats won the final two points to secure a 25-16 victory.

- The fourth set was a thriller throughout despite WSU not leading until the 14-13 mark after a kill from Frazee.  The momentum stayed with the WSU and the lead grew to 16-13 after a point from Richardson.  After a point for each side, the Wildcats won the next six points to take a 20-17 lead.  An NMU error tied the game at 21-21.  The teams continued to break service down the stretch as WSU led 23-22, 26-25 before the set was tied at 27-27.  The Wildcats were able to focus despite the extremely loud crowd and win the final two points and take the match 3-1.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Richardson led all performers with 15 kills, while Krenz and Moore tallied 13.  Breault finished with 37 assists as Moore and Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) paced the defense with 15 digs each.

UP NEXT
- Wayne State will host another UP school on Saturday afternoon as Michigan Tech visits Detroit for a 2:00 p.m. matchup.