DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (11-2, 4-1 GLIAC) hosted a key GLIAC South Division matchup against Findlay (8-5, 4-1 GLIAC) on Tuesday night and the Warriors rebounded from a slow start to take care of the Oilers 3-1.  The win catapults WSU into first place in the division, while the Warriors continue to hold onto the best overall winning percentage in the league (.846).

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The visiting Oilers took control of the opening set early on and led 7-3 following a kill from Hannah Tong.  The Findlay advantage reached 16-7 and eventually 20-12.  WSU was unable to mount a comeback and UF won 25-15.

• Mikayla Shell (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) gave the Warriors a 4-3 lead after a kill early in the second set.  Findlay tied the set at 6-6 before the Warriors began to find their rhythm.  Brittany Guldan (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Central) delivered a kill to put WSU ahead 11-7.  Later in the set, a 4-0 run capped by a service ace from Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) gave the Green & Gold a 17-13 lead.  Three consecutive UF errors extended WSU's lead to 23-16, forcing the Oilers to take a timeout.  The teams alternated the next four points to help WSU tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-18 victory.

• Wayne State won the first five points of the third set, which set the tone for the rest of the night.  During that run Michelle Asiedu (Holland, Ohio / Springfield) and Avery Punches (Rockford, Mich. / Rockford) each tallied two kills.  Hannah Moore (Louisville, Ky. / Assumption) stretched the home lead to 8-1 with a kill of her own.  The Oilers put themselves back into the game and trailed 12-8 before the Warriors regained the momentum.  A combo block from Punches and Shell gave WSU a double-digit lead at 21-11 and the Warriors would go on to win 25-17.

• The strong play continued from the up and coming Wayne State team in the fourth set.  WSU led 6-2 after a kill from Punches and a UF attack error.  Karen Sidge (White Lake, Mich. / Howell) notched back-to-back aces, making the WSU lead 12-7.  Findlay cut the deficit to two at 14-12 but once again the Warriors had an answer.  The Oilers pulled within two at 20-18 but after a WSU timeout, the Warriors rattled off three straight points including two kills from Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron).  Asiedu ended the match with a kill, helping WSU win the fourth set 25-22.  Asiedu finished with 14 kills, hitting .500 on 24 swings.

FROM COACH KOTH
"This was a very important win for our team tonight.  We responded from a sluggish start to play solid volleyball.  It was nice to see our serving really step up this evening.  That is a strength for our team, that we very much rely on.  It came thru for us this evening against a very good Findlay Volleyball team."

UP NEXT
The Warriors will make their first road trip since the opening weekend (Sept. 2-3 in Springfield, Ill.) of the season for two matches in the Upper Peninsula.  WSU will meet Northern Michigan on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Michigan Tech on Saturday at 4 p.m.