ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (16-12 overall) traveled to Grand Valley State (16-12 overall) on Wednesday night for a GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal contest.  The Warriors took the season's rubber match, winning 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 22-25, 28-26, 15-9), as the teams split the two regular season matchups, both of which were also five-set thrillers and won by the road team.

This was the second straight season WSU has qualified for the postseason and the 14th time in program history.  It was the first postseason victory for WSU since 2012 and just the third since joining the GLIAC.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The fifth-seeded Warriors trailed 5-2 in the first set after an attacking error by Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central).  GVSU continued to control the momentum and led 11-5.  A kill from Krenz kept WSU close at 14-9 and two GVSU errors put the score at 14-11.  An ace from Madison Kielty (Plymouth, Mich. / Canton) and a block from Michelle Asiedu (Holland, Ohio / Springfield) pulled the Green & Gold within two at 18-16.  Asiedu tallied another kill to make it 19-18 and notched another block to tie the game at 19-19.  However, the Lakers controlled the remainder of the set and won 25-22.

- Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron) tied the second set at 3-3 with a kill and followed with another point to give the visitors the one-point advantage.  Natalie Breault (Bad Axe, Mich.) pushed the lead to 7-4 with an ace.  Consecutive kills from Asiedu gave WSU a 14-10 lead, but the Lakers would tie the set at 19-19.  Wayne State led 22-21 after a kill from Richardson and another point from the junior gave WSU a 24-23 lead.  The Warriors won the set 25-23 to tie the match at 1-1 on a solo block from Asiedu.

- The teams went back and forth to begin the third set and WSU led 10-7 after a GVSU error.  The Lakers tied the set at 16-16 on a WSU error forcing head coach Tim Koth to use a timeout.  The set remained tied at 20-20 before a Lakers' block gave the home team the lead.  GVSU won the third set 25-22.

- GVSU led the fourth set 4-2 before a Grace Frazee (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) kill cut the deficit to one. However, the Lakers continued to set the tone of the set and led 10-6.  WSU was unable to find its footing as Grand Valley State led 17-11. A block from Frazee pulled the Warriors within two at 20-18.  An ace from Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) and a GVSU error tied the set at 20-20.  Richardson gave the visitors a 23-22 lead with her 21st kill of the night.  The set was tied at 23-23, 24-24, 25-25 and 26-26.  An ace from Richardson gave WSU a 27-26 lead and a kill from Asiedu forced a fifth set.

- The fifth set was tied at 2-2 but kills from Julia Malewicz (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Academy for International Studies / Henry Ford II) and Richardson gave the Warriors a 4-2 lead.  A Lakers' error gave the Warriors an 8-6 lead as the teams switched benches.  GVSU won the next two points before a block by Richardson.  Another point from Malewicz pushed WSU's lead to 11-9 and an ace by Rodriguez gave the Warriors their 12th point.  Two more kills from Krenz sandwiched around another ace from Rodriguez secured the win for WSU, 15-9.  Wayne State won the final six points of the match.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Richardson turned in a dynamite performance with 24 kills and 21 digs, while Malewicz finished with 12 kills.  Breault dished out 56 assists and Rodriguez collected 19 digs and a match-high four service aces.

UP NEXT
- Wayne State will play top-seed Ferris State on Saturday in Big Rapids, Mich. at 3:00 p.m. in a GLIAC Semifinal contest.  The Warriors won the only previous meeting this season (3-2) on Oct. 7 at FSU.