DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (3-1 GLIAC) lost for the first time this season on Friday in four sets to Grand Valley State (3-1 GLIAC). The Warriors took set two (25-22), while dropping set one (25-21), set three (25-21) and set four (25-17).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lakers led early in the first set 6-2 after a WSU attacking error. The game was tied at 10-10 after a block by senior
Julia Malewicz (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Academy for International Studies / Henry Ford II). A kill from redshirt sophomore
Halle Shell (Port Huron, Mich. / Port Huron Northern) gave the Warriors a 17-16 advantage but GVSU would tie the set at 20-20 and control the remainder of the set to win 25-21.
Redshirt junior
Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) kept set two tied at 3-3 with a service ace. A kill from freshman
Jenna Kray (Westerville, Ohio / Worthington Christian) pulled the Green & Gold within a point, 9-8. A 4-0 run by Wayne State pushed the Warriors ahead 15-12. WSU won the race to 20 on another point by Kray. Sophomore
Maddie Morrison (Flushing, Mich.) clinched the set-two win with a solo block to make it 25-22.
The Lakers controlled the third set earl, 8-3 and 13-8. A kill by junior
Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) trimmed the deficit to 16-11 but GVSU would pull away to take a 20-13 advantage. Shell and Malewicz teamed up for a block to make it 23-19 in favor of the visitors. Grand Valley State would take control of the match by winning set three 25-21.
GVSU continued to seize the momentum and led the fourth set 7-3. Wayne State struggled to find its footing as the Lakers would win 25-17.
COACH KOTH'S THOUGHTS
"Well day two of a rivalry weekend is what you would expect. It was two good teams playing a strong match. Yesterday, I said the serve/receive game was the difference and it was again tonight but just flipped around. These are two of the top teams in the GLIAC and I imagine we will see them again the conference tournament. We have a lot to learn from as this was just our fourth match of the year. We will take that and learn from it and be better for it."
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Shell paced WSU with 10 kills, while Duffield dished out 24 assists. Sophomore
Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) anchored the defense with 20 digs.
UP NEXT
The Warriors will play twice at Northwood next weekend, beginning on Friday at 6:00 PM.
