Box Score

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (9-16, 6-8) concluded its three-match home stand on Tuesday night against Findlay (17-9, 8-6). The Oilers improved its postseason aspirations with a 3-1 victory and avenged an Oct. 1 Warrior victory in Findlay, Ohio. Findlay took set one 25-21 before WSU answered with a 25-22 set-two win. UF took set three 25-17 and set four 25-23 to win the match.

A Kristen Bulkiewicz (LaSalle, Ont. / Sandwich) kill staked WSU to a 4-2 lead to begin the opening set. A Warrior service ace from Heather Weiss (Fort Gratiot, Mich. / Port Huron) kept the advantage at one, 9-8. Findlay strung together four consecutive points to take a 12-9 lead and would not trail again in the set going onto win 25-21.

The Oilers led 7-4 to start the second set before the Warriors tied the set up at 11-11 on a kill from Mikayla Shell (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington). The match remained extremely close throughout as the two teams were tied 12-12, 13-13 , 15-15 and 16-16. The Green & Gold created some breathing room with a 3-0 run and led 19-17. WSU reached 20 first leading 20-18. WSU would go on to win 25-22 on a service ace from Weiss.

UF started quickly in the third set and led 7-3 and controlled the remainder of the set. WSU would pull within three at 12-9 following a Findlay service error. The Oilers extended their lead to 18-11 and then 23-15 to go onto win 25-17 and take a 2-1 match lead.

Looking to force a fifth-set tiebreaker WSU led 8-6 to begin the fourth set. Weiss and Kelsey Bonewits (Griffith, Ind.) combined for a block to keep the Warrior out front 12-11. Findlay responded with a 4-0 run to take a 14-12 lead and stretched its lead to 22-16. A late rally from WSU, which included a 7-3 run, would fall short and the visitors would take the set 25-23 and the set 3-1.

Bulkiewicz collected her second 20-plus kill performance of the season and her 33rd career double-double with 20 kills and 11 digs while hitting .366. The senior now has 1,266, just eight shy of Renee Bialke (1993-97) for third all-time in program history. Posting a career-high with 17 kills was Weiss while Madison Reeves (Indianapolis, Ind. / Avon) collected 45 assists. Carlee Hunt (Waterford, Mich. / Walled Lake Northern) led the defense with 14 digs. WSU hit .236 compared to Findlay's .291.

Hannah Tong led the way for UF with 21 kills and hit a match-high .459.

WSU will conclude the road portion of its schedule this weekend beginning at Malone on Friday at 7 PM.