AURORA, Ill. -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (16-2) notched a statement 3-2 victory over 12th-ranked Lewis (15-4) in the opening match of the 2016 Midwest Regional Crossover.  The Warriors and the rest of the GLIAC will meet teams from the GLVC and the G-MAC.

WSU is the top seed from the GLIAC for the first time in program history and is now 12-14 all-time in this event.  It is the program's first win over a ranked team since beating sixth-ranked Southwest Minnesota State in 2013 and first under third-year head coach Tim Koth.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• A 6-0 run gave WSU a 10-6 lead over Lewis in the opening set. The Flyers trimmed Wayne State's lead to one at 12-11 before WSU responded with three straight points to extend its lead to 15-11.  After Lewis pulled within a point, the Green & Gold had an answer as Hannah Moore (Louisville, Ky. / Assumption) tallied back-to-back kills followed by another point from Mikayla Shell (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) to put Wayne State up 21-16.  The Warriors held off a late charge and took the opening set 25-23.

• WSU started the second set quickly and led 6-3.  Michelle Asiedu (Holland, Ohio / Springfield) delivered a kill to keep Wayne State on top 9-5.  The Flyers would tie the game at 11-11 and then take a 16-15 advantage.  Four straight points from Avery Punches (Rockford, Mich.) propelled WSU to a 20-19 lead.  Following another WSU point, Lewis won six of the final seven points to win 25-22.

• The first three points went to the Warriors during the third set and WSU led 10-5 after a spike from Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron).  A 5-0 run by Lewis tied the set at 11-11.  The back-and-forth affair continued and the Warriors held onto a 16-14 lead and 18-17.  The Flyers took a 21-19 lead before Wayne State rattled off three straight points to regain the lead, 22-21.  Following a Flyers' timeout, Lewis captured four of the final five points to take a 2-1 match lead with a 25-23 victory.

• In what would be a thrilling fourth set, the Warriors led 6-0 to begin the game.  Two kills from Richardson and another point from Shell kept WSU on top 11-6.  A Lewis service error put WSU up 20-16.  However, the GLVC power would go on a 7-1 run to take a 23-21 lead.  WSU answered with a 5-2 run to regain the lead 25-24.  Punches kept the one-point lead in tact at 26-25 and the Warriors would force a fifth set with a 28-26 win.

• In the decisive fifth set, Lewis led 5-1 early.  After a timeout, WSU would find its form and tie the set at 6-6.  Shell had three straight kills during the rally.   Lewis led 12-9 and 13-10 in the race to 15.  Wayne State won the final five points to collect a 15-13 victory for its seventh consecutive win.

FROM COACH KOTH
"Great win for the Warrior today!  I think we grew up a bit having to compete at this level against a very strong Lewis team."

UP NEXT
• The Crossover concludes on Saturday as WSU faces Rockhurst and Cedarville.