GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (4-6 GLIAC) lost in four sets at Davenport (7-3 GLIAC) on Friday evening. Davenport took set one (25-19), set two (25-23) and set four (25-21), while WSU battled back to win set three (26-24).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Warriors tallied the first five points of the match and led 7-2 following a kill by junior Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.). Back-to-back points from redshirt junior Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) made it 11-6 but the Panthers would come back and tie the set at 13-13 and hold onto the momentum and lead 18-15. A block by Duffield and freshman Jenna Kray (Westerville, Ohio / Worthington Christian) pulled WSU within two, 21-19. Davenport won the final four points to take the set 25-19.
A kill from redshirt junior Lauren VanderWal (Caledonia, Mich.) early in the second set gave the Green & Gold a 5-3 advantage. The close game continued and a service ace from Wagner pushed WSU ahead 9-7. Wayne State continued to lead by two, 13-11, following a combo block from sophomore Maddie Morrison (Flushing, Mich.) and redshirt sophomore Halle Shell (Port Huron, Mich. / Port Huron Northern). Kray kept WSU in the lead, 20-19, with a kil before DU won the next three points to make it 22-20. The Warriors were unable to tie the set the rest of the way as the Panthers won 25-23 and took a 2-0 match lead.
VanderWal put Wayne State on top 6-3 with a kill early in the third set. A point by Wagner made it 9-6 but the home team would storm back and lead 11-10 and 12-11. Another kill from Wagner kept the game tied at 17-17 before DU extended its lead to 20-17 and 23-19. Showing resilience, the Warriors won seven of the final eight points to win 26-24.
Points from Duffield and VanderWal to start the fourth set gave WSU a 5-3 lead. The visitors continued to lead 11-10 and 12-11. Neither team were able to keep serve and a kill from Kray gave Wayne State a 17-15 lead. However, the Panthers would control the next few minutes and lead 23-19. The Warriors trimmed the deficit to 23-21 on kills from VanderWal and Wagner but would run out of time as DU would win 25-21.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
VanderWal had 18 kills, while Wagner finished with 17. Duffield dished out 42 assists, while sophomore Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) led the defense with 18 digs. Wagner posted a double-double by collecting 14 digs. Sophomore Maddie Douglas (Brownstown, Mich. / Trenton) notched 10 digs.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will host Lake Superior State on Friday night with first serve set for 7:00 PM.
