TAMPA, Fla. -- Play concluded at the Tampa Classic on Saturday and the Wayne State University volleyball program (0-4) found themselves pitted against two more high-caliber opponents. The morning matchup featured WSU against the ninth-ranked Wheeling Jesuit (2-1) and the Warriors were swept 3-0 by the Cardinals. In the afternoon, the Green & Gold met #24 Western Washington (2-2) and the Vikings took the final match of the event from the Warriors, 3-0.

MATCH ONE VS. #9 WHEELING JESUIT (L, 0-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors jumped out to a 6-5 lead after kills from Hannah Moore (Louisville, Ky. / Assumption), Emily Norscia (Livonia, Mich. / Livonia Churchill) and an ace from Moore. Wheeling Jesuit tied the first set at 8-8 on a WSU block error. The Cardinals would not relinquish the lead the remainder of the opening game, leading by as many as 11 points (23-12) on their way to a 25-16 triumph.

- After a point from captain Kelsey Bonewits (Griffith, Ind.), WSU led the second set 4-2. However, WJU took the next six points to go on top 10-6 before a Warrior timeout. A 3-0 WSU run capped by a Michelle Asiedu (Holland, Ohio / Springfield) kill trimmed the deficit to 21-16. Asiedu would collect another kill but that would be it for the Warriors as WJU won the second set, 25-17.

- Wheeling Jesuit continued to control the match, jumping out to an 12-4 advantage in the third set. Two kills from Asiedu and a Cardinal attack error brought WSU back within six, 13-7. Later in the set, the Warriors took four of six points to stay within striking distance at 19-13. WJU won six of the next seven points to complete the sweep with a 25-14 set three victory.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- 10 Warriors recorded kills in the match, led by seven from Asiedu as she hit .333.
- Maddison Smith tallied 26 assists.
- Ellie Rodriguez posted her third 10+ dig performance in as many games with 10 digs versus WJU.

TEAM NOTES
- WSU hit .161 for the match.
- The Warriors best set on offense was the second, hitting .220.

LEADING THE CARDINALS
- Three Cardinals finished with double-digit kills including a match-high 11 from Haley Kindall.
- Jessica Thobe led the WJU defense with 21 digs while Andrea Thobe dished out 38 assists.

FROM COACH KOTH
"We did not play as well as we did on Friday. Wheeling Jesuit really affected our serve/receive game today and our blockers struggled to adjust to their attack. WJU played very clean volleyball and against teams like that we have to do the same."

MATCH TWO VS. #24 WESTERN WASHINGTON (L, 0-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors led 5-3 to begin the first set against #24 Western Washington after kills from Mikayla Shell (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) and Hannah Moore. WWU went on an 8-0 run to take an 11-5 lead. The momentum stayed with the Vikings as their lead reached double digits at 18-8. Showing some resolve, the Green & Gold trimmed WWU's lead to 20-15 following a 5-1 run. Five points would be as close as the Warriors would come down the stretch, allowing the Vikings to win the opening set 25-18.

- The second set began as a back-and-forth affair as the two teams were tied on five occasions including 7-7. However, Wayne State could never take a lead and WWU extended its lead to 17-10 after a 6-0 run. A 6-1 run from the Warriors cut WWU's lead to 18-16. The Vikings went on a 5-0 run to take 24-17 lead. Facing set point, the Warriors took the next five points, pulling within two points at 24-22. Unable to complete the comeback, WSU fell 25-22 in the second set as WWU captured a 2-0 match lead.

- WWU led 4-1 to being the third set and eventually extended its lead to 8-3 to force a WSU timeout. Following a kill from Moore, the Warriors pulled back within five at 12-7. The Vikings controlled the rest of the set and rolled to a 25-12 set three victory, completing the sweep.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Hannah Moore finished with a match-high 12 kills on 31 attacks and 19 on the day.
- Maddison Smith posted a season-best 34 assists while Ellie Rodriguez also tallied a season-high with 18 digs.
- Mikayla Shell collected three blocks.

TEAM NOTES
- As a team, WSU hit .133 including a match-high of .176 in the third set.

LEADING THE VIKINGS
- Rachel Roeder led WWU with nine kills while three others posted eight-kill performances.

FROM COACH KOTH
"I felt it was a very competitive second match today. Our level of play was much higher than the morning match and although the result was the same, we gained some valuable experience. This tournament was fantastic for our team and despite the outcome we are a much better team for having played here. We have a chance to be a very good team by the end of the season if we continue to grow from this experience."

UP NEXT
The Warriors will compete at the Lock Haven Invitational beginning on September 11 against Lock Haven (9 AM) and Shepherd (2 PM).