DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (7-3 overall, 2-0 GLIAC) hosted Davenport (5-6 overall, 0-2 GLIAC) on Saturday afternoon and the Warriors completed a perfect GLIAC opening weekend with a 3-0 sweep of the Panthers.  WSU won by scores of 25-16, 25-23 and 25-22.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) put WSU on top 5-1 with a kill early in the first set.  Wagner collected two more kills and a service ace to extend the home lead to 9-4.  Wayne State led 12-4 before the Panthers trimmed the deficit to 12-9 with a 4-0 run.  A point from Olivia Fike (North Branch, Mich.) gave the Green & Gold an 18-10 advantage.  DU pulled within five at 19-14 but WSU won six of the final eight points to secure the first set 25-16.

- The Warriors began the second set leading 3-1 after a kill from Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich, / Huron) and WSU stretched its lead to 7-3 before Davenport would tie the set at 7-7.  The game remained tied at 12-12 before a 5-1 run by Wayne State gave the home team a 17-13 lead.  Richardson capped the rally with back-to-back kills.  Wayne State was the first team to 20 but DU would lead 21-20.  A combo block by Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) and Grace Frazee (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) made it 22-21 in favor of the Green & Gold but the set was still tied at 23-23.  A kill from Richardson and a DU error gave the Warriors a 25-23 set-two victory and a 2-0 match lead.

- The Panthers led the third set 3-1 and 9-6 as the WSU offense looked to find its rhythm.  Wagner tied the game at 12-12 with a kill later in the set but Davenport led 17-16.  A block from Frazee and a kill from Richardson put WSU on top 18-17.  The Panthers led 20-18 and 21-20.  A 4-0 run by the Warriors gave WSU a 24-21 lead and a kill from Fike two points later completed the 3-0 Saturday sweep.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Richardson notched her fifth straight double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs.  Wagner collected 13 kills, while Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) had 39 assists.  Haley Tenelshof (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Jenison) and Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) both tallied 15 digs.  Rodriguez now ranks fourth all-time in program history with 1,339 career digs.

FROM COACH KOTH
"This was a nice win against a very good Davenport team.  We had solid contributions today offensively, but overall I felt like our defense was a difference maker for us.  It's tough to sweep weekends in the GLIAC so this was a great start to conference play."

TURNING POINT
- After DU took a 21-20 lead in the second set, WSU responded with two important points to slow the visitors momentum.  The Warriors would win five of the final seven points to win 25-23 and take a 2-0 match lead.

UP NEXT
- Wayne State and Ashland will tangle on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. inside the Matthaei as WSU continues its nine-match home stand.