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Wayne State University Athletics

Maddy Benoit
Maddy Benoit had 17 digs on Friday night.
3
Winner Northern Mich. NMU 12-13,7-7 GLIAC
2
Wayne State WSU 19-6,11-3 GLIAC
Winner
Northern Mich. NMU
12-13,7-7 GLIAC
3
Final
2
Wayne State WSU
19-6,11-3 GLIAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Northern Mich. NMU 21 25 25 13 16 (3)
Wayne State WSU 25 21 17 25 14 (2)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Cameron Weidenthaler, Assistant Media Relations Director

Volleyball Upset by Northern Michigan

The Warriors won set two and four but were unable to win the fifth set.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (19-6 overall, 11-3 GLIAC) fell in five sets to Northern Michigan (12-13 overall, 7-7 GLIAC) on Friday night inside the Matthaei.  WSU saw its six-match winning streak come to an end and its just the second home loss this season.

The Green & Gold have its sights set on its first trip to the NCAA postseason since 1994 and for just the third time in program history.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats led 7-5 to start the first set and then 14-10.  An NMU error tied the game at 18-18.  A service ace from Julia Malewicz (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Academy for International Studies / Henry Ford II) gave the Warriors a 20-18 advantage.  Northern Michigan would lead 21-20 but the Green & Gold the final five points to take the opening set 25-21.

The visitors jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the second set.  A kill from Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) brought thr Warriors within two, 11-9.  The Wildcats continued to have an answer at every turn and NMU lead 20-16 after an attacking error from Alexa Withun (Troy, Mich. / Athens).  Jenna Kray (Westerville, Ohio / Worthington Christian) trimmed the deficit to 22-20 but NMU would win 25-21.

The Wildcats led the third set 6-2 and then 14-5.  The margin grew to 21-9 before the Warriors started to chip away.  An ace from Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) made it 21-11 and another ace from Malewicz cut NMU's advantage to 22-15.  WSU came within five, 22-17, but the Wildcats would win the final three points to take a 2-1 match lead.

With NMU leading 5-4, Wayne State used a 7-0 run to take an 11-5 lead.  Halle Shell (Port Huron, Mich. / Port Huron Northern) collected two kills during the rally.  The lead grew to 21-10 following an ace by Duffield.  A block by Lauren VanderWal (Caledonia, Mich.) and Shell gave WSU a 23-12 advantage.  Points by Shell and Withun sealed a 25-13 set-four victory.

WSU trailed 5-2 to start the decisive fifth set.  A kill from Shell tied the game at 5-5 before a block from Withun and Kray gave the Warriors an 8-7 lead.  However, the Cats won the next three points.  An NMU error tied the set at 10-10 and a kill from Wagner kept the set at 11-11.  After Northern Michigan won three consecutive points to lead 14-11, Wayne State won the next three points to tie the set at 14-14.  VanderWal posted two kills to get Wayne State back into the match.  However, NMU took the final two points to win 16-14.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Four Warriors had 10 or more kills led by 12 from Withun.  VanderWal and Shell had 11 kills, while Wagner finished with 10.  Duffield dished out 42 assists, while Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) led the defense with 17 digs.  Shell tallied eight total blocks.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will host Michigan Tech on Saturday afternoon.  First serve is scheduled for 2:00 PM.  The program will honor senior prior to the match.


 
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