INDIANAPOLIS -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (11-10 overall) took a break from GLIAC play on Friday to play the first two of three total matches at the Midwest Regional Crossover.  The Warriors fell in three sets to Bellarmine (13-8 overall) before dropping a three-set match against 12th-ranked Drury (19-3 overall).

The 11th annual Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover, the nation's largest collegiate volleyball tournament at one venue, will be held at The Academy Volleyball Club.  The two-day tournament features 57 matches conducted on 10 courts throughout six sessions at one of the top volleyball facilities in the country. The event is designed to increase competition between teams from the three leagues in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region.

MATCH ONE vs. BELLARMINE (L, 0-3 / 21-25, 9-25, 22-25)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a kill from Julia Malewicz (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Academy of International Studies / Henry Ford II) and a poor Bellarmine set, WSU led 6-5.  A 5-0 run by the Warriors gave WSU a 11-6 advantage.  Grace Frazee (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) pushed the home lead to 15-11.  However, the Knights would storm back to take a 19-17 lead.  BU won the final five points to take the first set 25-21.

WSU trailed 5-1 to open the second set and eventually 13-3.  Bellarmine continued to control all of the momentum and led 22-8 on its way to winning 25-9.

The Knights led 7-4 to start the third set.  An ace from Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron) gave the Green & Gold an 11-10 lead.  However, BU would come back to take a 17-15 lead.  WSU responded with kills from Frazee and Richardson allowed Wayne State to take a 19-18 lead.  Bellarmine led 23-20 before kills from Richardson and a block from Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) and Liz Weeks (Fishers, Ind.).  The Knights won the final two points to win 25-22 and complete the sweep.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Richardson paced WSU's offensive attack with 15 kills, while Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) dished out 25 assists.  Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) anchored the defense with nine digs.

MATCH TWO vs. #12-DRURY (L, 0-3 / 18-25, 18-25, 23-25)
HOW IT HAPPENED
A solo block from Christa Raicevich (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) gave Wayne State a 5-3 lead to open the first set.  A kill from Richardson tied the game at 9-9 before the Panthers won the next four points to take a 13-9 advantage.  Drury seized control of the set, leading 18-13 and eventually 22-15 on its way to winning 25-18.

DU began the second set by winning the first four points and led 13-5 following a 5-0 run.  A point from Richardson and a Panthers' attacking error trimmed WSU's deficit to 15-10 but Drury would continue to play with confidence and extended its lead to 21-11.  The Warriors used a 6-0 run to pull within four at 21-17.  Liz Weeks (Fishers, Ind.) came off the bench to collect two blocks and a kill during the rally.  The Panthers won four of the final five points to win 25-18 and take a 2-0 match lead.

WSU trailed 4-2 to begun the third set but three straight points capped by a kill from Olivia Fike (North Branch, Mich.) gave the Green & Gold a 5-4 advantage.  Another point from Fike made it 8-6 in favor of the Warriors but DU would come back and tie the game at 12-12.  The teams traded points until the Panthers took a two-point lead at 17-15.  Drury was the first team to 20 and led 20-17 before a kill from Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central), a block by Fike and Wagner and a DU error gave Wayne State a 23-22 advantage later in the set.  Those would be the last points of the day for WSU as Drury won the final three points to win 25-23.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Richardson was the only Warrior in double-digit kills with 10, while Duffield finished with 24 assists.  Rodriguez tallied a team-high eight digs.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will finish the Crossover weekend against Indianapolis against UIndy at 1:00 p.m.