ST. LOUIS, Mo. - In the 2011 season opener at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons Classic, the Wayne State University volleyball team lost to the host Tritons, 3-0, on Friday afternoon.

UMSL swept the match by scores of 25-22, 25-17 and 25-19.

Leading the Warriors offensively was Kristen Bulkiewicz (LaSalle, Ont./Sandwich) who finished with 12 kills.  She also contributed six digs and a pair of blocks.

Freshman Candice Ottey (Ajax, Ont.) totaled nine kills with a .429 hitting percentage in her first collegiate match.  Jen Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.) chipped in with five kills and a team-best four blocks in her first career start.

Despite out-hitting UMSL, .389 to .317, and going on a four-point run late in the first set to tie it at 22-22, the Tritons nabbed the last three points to take a 1-0 lead.  The third set was a battle, with four lead changes and seven tie scores.

Lindsey Graciak (Westland, Mich./Livonia Churchill) finished with nine digs, and Cydney Biessel (Ruby, Mich./Yale) racked up 31 assists with seven digs.

Wayne State will meet North Alabama later today at 4:00 p.m. ET.