BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (2-1 overall) split its two matches on day two of three at the Ferris State Invitational on Friday.  WSU fell in three sets to Seton Hill (1-0 overall) before winning in five sets over Bemidji State (1-1) to conclude the day.

MATCH ONE vs. SETON HILL (L, 0-3 / 24-26, 20-25, 21-25)
HOW IT HAPPENED
WSU started fast and led 3-0 after a kill from Julia Malewicz (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Academy for International Studies / Henry Ford II).  A Griffins attacking error made it 7-6 in favor of the Green & Gold but Seton Hill would respond and regain the lead, 13-12.  Wayne State used a 4-0 run to take a 17-15 lead, powered by three Seton Hill errors and a kill from Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central).  The Warriors reached 20 points first on another point from Krenz but the Griffins won six of the final seven points to take the opening set, 26-24.

Seton Hill tallied the first four points of the second game and eventually led 10-6.  A service ace from Maddie Morrison (Flushing, Mich.) tied the set at 13-13 but the Griffins controlled the rest of the game and lead 23-16 before winning 25-20.

The Griffins led for most of the early stages of the third set but Wayne State evened the score at 11-11 on a kill by Olivia Fike (North Branch, Mich.), capping a 3-0 run.  However, that would be the last time the score was tied as Seton Hill went on to win 25-21.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Malewicz finished with six kills, while Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) tallied 24 assists.

MATCH TWO vs. BEMIDJI STATE (W, 3-2 / 21-25, 25-19, 25-17, 19-25, 15-13)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Warriors led the first game 7-4 after a kill from Krenz.  The Beavers led 15-13 after a WSU blocking error and BSU would go on to win 25-21.

Back-to-back service aces from Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) staked WSU to a 7-2 lead.  The margin grew to 10-3 following a point by Krenz.  Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) collected a kill and pushed the home lead to 15-8.  Wayne State was the first team to 20 thanks to a kill from Morrison.  Morrison notched another point for WSU's 24th point and a Bemidji State service error accounted for the 25th and final point of the set.

The Green & Gold opened the third set by leading 6-2 following a BSU attacking error.  Wagner gave Wayne State a 10-5 advantage.  Morrison extended the margin to seven, 17-10, with a kill.  Two straight aces from Malewicz later in the set pushed WSU within a point of sealing the set and a kill from Wagner finished the job and gave WSU a 2-1 match lead.

The Beavers captured the first five points of the fourth set and led 10-3.  The Warriors were unable to create any momentum and lost 25-19 to force a fifth and decisive set.

Wayne State led the final game 3-2 after a point from Morrison but BSU led 7-6 and eventually 12-9.  Another point from Morrison tied the set at 13-13.  An ace from Benoit and a kill by Summer Farris (Farmington Hills, Mich. / North Farmington) gave WSU a 15-13 win and a 3-2 victory.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Wagner totaled a career-high 19 kills to go with a career-best 17 digs for a double-double.  Krenz posted 13 kills, while Morrison finished with 12.  Duffield tallied 49 assists.

HEAD COACH TIM KOTH'S THOUGHTS
"Today was a war of attrition.  After a tough win last night we had to come back and play two outstanding opponents.   I'm very pleased with the effort we gave.  We got great contributions from our entire lineup today. "

ONE BIG THING
Wayne State's service looked to be the difference as WSU posted 13 aces compared to Bemidji State's seven.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will finish its opening weekend against New Haven on Saturday with first serve set for 3:00 p.m.