DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (5-3 overall) had its sights set on bouncing back during day two of the 2018 Warrior Invitational and WSU did just that by edging Illinois Springfield (5-3 overall) in four sets before ending the tournament with a five-set loss to Tiffin (5-3 overall).
MATCH ONE vs. ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD (W, 3-1 / 23-25, 27-25, 25-20)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In what would be a battle all match long, the Warriors trailed 4-3 early in the first set.Â
Olivia Fike (North Branch, Mich.) gave WSU a 6-5 lead with a kill and a 4-0 run later in the game put Wayne State up 11-8. UIS tied the set at 16-16 and eventually led 21-20. Two errors by the Prairie Stars later in the set tied the contest at 23-23 but UIS would capture the final two points to win 25-23.
- It was more of the same in the second set as the teams traded punches. The Green & Gold tied the game at 5-5 with a kill from
Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron). Richardson kept WSU tied at 10-10 with another kill before UIS created some breathing room with a 3-0 run to lead 13-10. However,
Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) found her swing and connected for back-to-back points to push the home advantage to 18-16. The game was tied 22-22 and 23-23. Richardson brought WSU within a point of winning the set with a kill but UIS answered with two straight points to lead 25-24. Wayne State won the final three points powered by two kills from Richardson to win 27-25.
- The Warriors led the third set 9-3 and eventually 15-6. Fike led the way with two kills during a 5-0 run. The Warriors held onto a comfortable 19-11 lead before leading 22-14 on an ace from
Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) but a 10-2 run by UIS would tied the set 24-24. However, a Illinois Springfield ball handling error and a kill from Krenz staked WSU to a 2-1 match lead.
- Wayne State opened the fourth set by leading 7-5 but the Prairie Stars would not go quietly, taking an 11-10 lead later in the game. WSU responded with a 6-2 rally highlighted by kills from four different Warriors, taking a 16-13 lead. A point from
Grace Frazee (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) capped a 5-1 run to give WSU a 24-17 lead and Richardson ended the set with a kill to give the Green & Gold a 25-20 victory.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Four Warriors finished with double-digit kills led by Richardson's 22. Krenz tallied 17, while Wagner (11) and Frazee rounded out the quartet. Duffield finished with a season-high 56 assists. Richardson was also effective on defense, totaling 19 digs, while Duffield collected 15.Â
Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) led the defense with 26 digs.
TEAM STATS
- The Warriors outhit UIS .217 to .208.
MATCH TWO vs. TIFFIN (L, 2-3 / 22-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23, 14-16)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Tiffin led the first set 9-2 but Wagner kept WSU within striking distance with a kill to conclude a 4-1 run. Â The visitors lead reached 18-11 and eventually 20-14. Â The Warriors would storm back to tie the set at 20-20 powered by a 6-0 run. Â During the rally, Richardson and Wagner both notched a pair of kills. Â The Dragons won the next three points and would win 25-22.
- The second set was tied at 10-10 following an ace from Richardson. Â After trading points on 12 consecutive serves, WSU trailed 17-15 but kills from Krenz and Fike tied the game at 17-17. Â However, Tiffin would end the set on an 8-1 run to win 25-18 and take a 2-0 match lead.
- The Dragons led 4-0 to start the third set and eventually 11-5.  Wayne State trimmed the deficit to one, 13-12, with a 6-1 run.  After the Warriors tied the game at 16-16 with a kill from Richardson, Tiffin took a 17-15 lead.  WSU would control the remainder of the set, winning 10 of the final 13 points to win 25-20.
- Wayne State trailed 9-3 to begin the fourth set. Â A 5-0 run, including three kills from Richardson, pulled WSU within two at 9-7. Â The Warriors then went on a 10-0 run, taking a 17-10 lead before Tiffin came all the way back to lead 23-22. Â Points from Richardson and Frazee plus a TU error would allow WSU to tie the match at 2-2 with a 25-23 victory.
- In the race to 15, Tiffin led the fifth set 4-2.  Back-to-back kills from Richardson tied the set at 8-8 but Tiffin would pull out to an 11-9 advantage.  A Dragon error tied the set at 11-11 and the contest remained tied at 13-13.  TU led 14-13 but Richardson broke serve with a kill.  The Dragons would win the final two points to win 16-14 and the match 16-14.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Richardson paced the offense with 29 kills, while Frazee finished with 11. Â
Natalie Breault (Bad Axe, Mich.) tallied 34 assists and Duffield collected 23 helpers. Â Richardson dug 25 balls, while Rodriguez garnered 20 digs.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
- Richardson and Rodriguez were named to the All-Tournament Team. Â Richardson earned MVP accolades after totaling 70 kills and 57 digs in the four matches.Â
UP NEXT
- Wayne State will continue its nine-match home stand on Friday as league play begins against Grand Valley State at 7:00 p.m. The GLIAC-opening weekend concludes as the Warriors play host to Davenport for a 2:00 p.m. Saturday clash.
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