MIDLAND, Mich. -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (3-3 GLIAC) lost at Northwood (5-1 GLIAC) in four sets on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors took set one (25-23), before the Timberwolves won set two (25-23), set three (25-23) and set four (25-20).
HOW IT HAPPENED
A kill from freshman
Jenna Kray (Westerville, Ohio / Worthington Christian) gave WSU a 6-5 lead early in the first set. The set was tied at 12-12 following a point by sophomore
Maddie Morrison (Flushing, Mich.) and another kill from Morrison pushed the Warriors ahead 15-14. Redshirt junior
Lauren VanderWal (Caledonia, Mich.) extended the advantage to 20-18 with a kill. Northwood would come back and trail 23-22 before another VanderWal point made it 24-22. Following an NU point, an attacking error gave the Green & Gold a 25-23 victory.
Wayne State 4-2 to start the second set but the home team would control the next few minutes and lead 14-11 after a WSU error. The game was tied at 14-14 and 15-15 but Northwood would regain control and lead 22-17. A late rally by the Warriors, including a kill from VanderWal and a block by Kray and VanderWal made it 24-23 in favor of NU. However, NU would collect the 25th and final point to the match at 1-1.
The Warriors started fast in the third set leading, 6-2 after an ace by sophomore
Sam Palazzolo (Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica Eisenhower). WSU continued to lead, 10-8, after a point by VanderWal but the Timberwolves would use a 4-0 run to take a 12-10 lead. The home team held onto a 23-17 lead but WSU would make another late comeback attempt. The Warriors would take the next six points to tie the set at 23-23. Once again, Northwood would respond and win the final two points and win 25-23 to take a 2-1 match lead.
VanderWal put WSU on top, 5-3, with a kill early in the fourth set. The teams traded punches and WSU held onto a one-point lead, 14-13, following a kill by VanderWal. The home team led 20-16 and would win 25-20.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
VanderWal carried the offense with a career-high 23 kills and hit an impressive .288. Morrison tallied 11 kills, while junior
Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) dished out a season-high 52 assists. Sophomore
Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) had a team-best 17 digs, while Duffield finished with 15 and redshirt junior
Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) chipped in 11 digs.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will host Parkside on Friday at 7:00 PM.
