SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (2-0) began the season with a pair of victories at the UIS Capital Classic on Friday.  The Warriors won the morning match against William Jewell (0-1) 3-1 and handled Ohio Valley (0-2) in three sets in Friday's finale.  The last time WSU won its season-opener was in 2009.

MATCH ONE vs. WILLIAM JEWELL (W, 3-1 / 25-18, 25-22, 24-26, 25-15)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Wayne State used a 4-0 run to jump out to a 10-5 lead in the opening set.  Hannah Moore (Louisville, Ky. / Assumption) broke a 14-14 tie with a kill before WJC took a 20-15 lead.  The Warriors went on to win the match 25-18.

- Once again, WSU started quickly and led the Cardinals 5-1 in the second set following a kill from Avery Punches (Rockford, Mich.).  WJC trimmed the deficit to one at 9-8 after a 3-0 run but Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron) stopped the rally with a kill.  The Cards took a 17-13 lead before the Green & Gold stormed back to tie the match at 22-22 after back-to-back kills from Punches.  WSU captured the final five points to win 25-22.

- With their sights set on a sweep the Warriors led 4-1 in the third set, powered by kills from Richardson and Moore.  Michelle Asiedu (Holland, Ohio / Springfield) delivered a point with a kill and a service ace from Brittany Guldan (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Central) put Wayne State up 11-8.  Another 3-0 rally, including a solo block by Punches, extended the Warriors' advantage to 16-12.  WSU continued to force the issue, leading 22-17 after kills from Punches and Moore plus a WJC attack error.  The Warriors were the first team to 24 after another point from Moore but were unable to finish and WJC won the final three points to stave off being swept with a 26-24 set-three triumph.

- WJC led the fourth set 5-4 before a 3-0 run from the Warriors, including two aces from Karen Sidge (White Lake, Mich. / Howell) gave WSU a 7-5 lead.  Richardson continued her impressive production with a pair of kills during a 4-0 run to double up WJC 14-7.  Wayne State was cruising after a kill from Asiedu extended the lead to 20-8.  William Jewell attempted to put themselves back into the set and pulled with nine points (24-15) but WSU would control the next point and secure the match victory.

FROM COACH KOTH
- "It was a typical first match of the season. A little chaotic but the team did a nice job of competing and imposing our will.  Hailey Richardson had a solid offensive opener and Brittany Guldan showed how much she has improved as a setter."

MATCH TWO vs. OHIO VALLEY (W, 3-0 / 25-21, 25-11, 25-19)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) tallied three straight service aces in the opening set to put the Warriors in the drivers' seat, 9-4.  The advantage grew to 12-6 after consecutive kills from Richardson.  The Fighting Scots took a 14-13 lead following a WSU attack error.  Moore righted the ship with two straight kills to give Wayne State a 22-15 lead and Mikayla Shell (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) collected the final two points of the set, clinching the victory.

- The first four points of the second set belonged to the Warriors.  Following an Ohio Valley point, WSU rattled off a 6-0 run to take a 10-1 lead.  After a solo block from Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) WSU led 15-7.  The Green & Gold would take seven of the last eight points to secure a 2-0 match lead.

- A Christa Raicevich (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) kill in the third set extended WSU's lead to 5-3.  OVU cut the deficit to one at 12-11 but then would never get closer than three points the rest of the way as WSU completed the Friday sweep with a 3-0 win in the day's final match.

FROM COACH KOTH
"We are happy to start the season with two wins against regional opponents. We saw some things we can do well and of course some areas we need to be better.  But that is part of early season competition.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow and the improvements we will make after getting the first day of the season out of the way."

UP NEXT
- WSU will conclude the season-opening tournament on Saturday with matches against Upper Iowa at noon and Illinois-Springfield at 8:30 p.m.