GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (12-11 overall, 7-5 GLIAC) continued its three-week road trip at Davenport (12-12 overall, 6-6 GLIAC) on Friday night and the Warriors won in five sets for just the second time this season.  WSU won set two 25-23, set three 25-18 and finally 15-11 in the fifth set.  The win gave WSU sole possession of second place with the GLIAC South Division.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Davenport led 7-3 to open the first set and eventually 14-4.  A combo block from Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) and Grace Frazee (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) kept Wayne State within 10 at 17-7.  A 6-1 run trimmed the deficit to 23-17 and the rally included four kills from Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron).  The Warriors pulled within two at 24-22 but DU would take the first game 25-22.

Kills from Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central), Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) and Olivia Fike (North Branch, Mich.) tied the second set at 4-4.  Another kill from Krenz gave the Green & Gold a 7-5 advantage.  Frazee extended the visitors' lead to 12-9 with a kill before the Panthers took a 14-13 lead with a 5-0 run, forcing head coach Tim Koth to take a timeout.  A service ace from Richardson and a kill from Wagner gave WSU the lead again at 16-14.  WSU led 20-18 after a DU attack error and another point from Richardson gave the Warriors a 23-20 advantage as Wayne State would even the match at 1-1 with a 25-23.

The Warriors trailed 5-3 early in the third set but a kill from Wagner and a DU attacking error tied the game at 5-5.  Back-to-back kills from Richardson and a point from Duffield gave WSU a 10-8 lead.  A 6-0 run pushed WSU's advantage to 18-12 and the Warriors led 20-13 after an ace from Frazee.  Wayne State won the set 25-18 after three straight DU errors, taking a 2-1 match lead.

The Panthers led the fourth set 4-3 and eventually 10-8.  A point by Richardson brought the Warriors within three at 13-10 but DU continued to control the momentum and led 17-10.  Wayne State strung six straight points together, trimming the deficit to 23-20 but Davenport collected the final two points to force a fifth set.

Wayne State won the first three points in the race-to-15 fifth set.  The game was tied at 6-6 following a kill from Wagner and a Green & Gold service error.  Krenz and Fike combined for a block to give WSU a 7-6 lead.  A kill from Richardson and a block by Duffield pushed the visitors' lead to 10-8.  Another kill from Richardson and combo blocks from Frazee/Richardson and Krenz/Frazee secured a 15-11 victory for the Warriors.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Richardson notched her 12th double-double of the season with 19 kills and 15 digs.  Duffield finished with 41 assists, while Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) posted a career-high 35 digs, which is the most in a five-set match for a Warrior since Oct. 22, 2010 when Lindsey Graciak totaled 31 against Tiffin.

ELLIE DIGS IT
Rodriguez continues her climb up the program record books for career digs.  The co-captain now has 1,585 career digs, which ranks second in school history.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH KOTH
"This was a nice road win for the Warriors tonight.  The team played very hard and competed at a consistently high level.  We served very well this evening and hopefully winning a tough match on the road will help get us back on track in this second half of GLIAC play."

UP NEXT
The Warriors will take on Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. on Saturday afternoon.  First serve is set for 4:00 p.m.