DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (8-1, 1-0 GLIAC) gutted out a five-set win over Tiffin (6-3, 0-1 GLIAC) on Friday night to capture the league opener.  The Warriors trailed two sets to one before 25-13 victory in the fourth set forced a decisive fifth set where the Green & Gold held off a talented TU squad to win its fifth consecutive match and improve to 8-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• In a set that would foreshadow on close the match would be throughout the evening, Tiffin led the opening set 9-7 after a 3-0 run.  The Dragons' lead reached four points at 14-10 after a quick 4-0 spurt.  WSU answered with a 5-0 run in front of an energetic crowd to tie the set at 20-20.  The teams alternated points until Tiffin wont he final two to capture the first set 27-25.

• Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron) turned in one of her better collegiate performance on Friday night and capped a 6-0 run early in the second set with a kill to give the Warriors a 9-2 advantage.  A point from Mikayla Shell (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) kept WSU in front 15-9 and an ace by Karen Sidge (White Lake, Mich. / Howell) gave WSU an eight-point lead.  Brittany Guldan (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Central) and Hannah Moore (Louisville, Ky. / Assumption) teamed up on the final point to secure the 25-16 victory and tie the match at one win apiece.

• The Dragons led 8-3 out of the gates in the third set and would continue to control the momentum and led 19-13.  WSU mounted a comeback and trailed 23-19 after a TU attack error.  Tiffin captured the final two points to win 25-19.

• With their backs against the wall, the Warriors continued to fight for every point.  WSU led 15-4 after a blazing start in the fourth set.  The rally included an 8-0 run by the Warriors.  A combo-block from Guldan and Shell made it 20-8 in favor of the home side.  Moore ended the game with a kill to give WSU a 25-13 victory and force a fifth-set.

• WSU had lost its only other previous five-set match earlier this season.  After Tiffin won the first two points, WSU showed more resolve and took a 4-3 lead.  Michelle Asiedu (Holland, Ohio / Springfield) and Moore blocked a TU attack and capped a 3-0 WSU run, putting the Warriors on top 7-5.  Following a Dragon serve that found the net, WSU held onto a three-point lead (10-7) before taking a 13-9 lead.  Richardson tallied her career-high 21st kill to give WSU its 14th point.  Tiffin cut the deficit to two (14-12) before a Warrior kill secure the match.

FROM COACH KOTH
"This was a very gutty win for Wayne State tonight. Tiffin attacked the ball extremely well and put a ton of pressure on our block and defense.  To our credit we eventually were able to neutralize their attack to a certain degree with great serving and some strong offense of our own.  We showed a lot of character in pulling this one out tonight."

UP NEXT
• The Warriors continue their nine-match home stand against Ashland on Saturday with first serve scheduled for just after 2 p.m.