DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (5-3 overall) had its sights set on bouncing back during day two of the 2018 Warrior Invitational and WSU did just that by edging Illinois Springfield (5-3 overall) in four sets before ending the tournament with a five-set loss to Tiffin (5-3 overall).

MATCH ONE vs. ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD (W, 3-1 / 23-25, 27-25, 25-20)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In what would be a battle all match long, the Warriors trailed 4-3 early in the first set.  Olivia Fike (North Branch, Mich.) gave WSU a 6-5 lead with a kill and a 4-0 run later in the game put Wayne State up 11-8.  UIS tied the set at 16-16 and eventually led 21-20.  Two errors by the Prairie Stars later in the set tied the contest at 23-23 but UIS would capture the final two points to win 25-23.

- It was more of the same in the second set as the teams traded punches.  The Green & Gold tied the game at 5-5 with a kill from Hailey Richardson (New Boston, Mich. / Huron).  Richardson kept WSU tied at 10-10 with another kill before UIS created some breathing room with a 3-0 run to lead 13-10.  However, Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) found her swing and connected for back-to-back points to push the home advantage to 18-16.  The game was tied 22-22 and 23-23.  Richardson brought WSU within a point of winning the set with a kill but UIS answered with two straight points to lead 25-24.  Wayne State won the final three points powered by two kills from Richardson to win 27-25.

- The Warriors led the third set 9-3 and eventually 15-6.  Fike led the way with two kills during a 5-0 run.  The Warriors held onto a comfortable 19-11 lead before leading 22-14 on an ace from Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) but a 10-2 run by UIS would tied the set 24-24.  However, a Illinois Springfield ball handling error and a kill from Krenz staked WSU to a 2-1 match lead.

- Wayne State opened the fourth set by leading 7-5 but the Prairie Stars would not go quietly, taking an 11-10 lead later in the game.  WSU responded with a 6-2 rally highlighted by kills from four different Warriors, taking a 16-13 lead.  A point from Grace Frazee (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) capped a 5-1 run to give WSU a 24-17 lead and Richardson ended the set with a kill to give the Green & Gold a 25-20 victory.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Four Warriors finished with double-digit kills led by Richardson's 22.  Krenz tallied 17, while Wagner (11) and Frazee rounded out the quartet.  Duffield finished with a season-high 56 assists.  Richardson was also effective on defense, totaling 19 digs, while Duffield collected 15.  Ellie Rodriguez (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Catholic Central) led the defense with 26 digs.

TEAM STATS
- The Warriors outhit UIS .217 to .208.

MATCH TWO vs. TIFFIN (L, 2-3 / 22-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23, 14-16)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Tiffin led the first set 9-2 but Wagner kept WSU within striking distance with a kill to conclude a 4-1 run.  The visitors lead reached 18-11 and eventually 20-14.  The Warriors would storm back to tie the set at 20-20 powered by a 6-0 run.  During the rally, Richardson and Wagner both notched a pair of kills.  The Dragons won the next three points and would win 25-22.

- The second set was tied at 10-10 following an ace from Richardson.  After trading points on 12 consecutive serves, WSU trailed 17-15 but kills from Krenz and Fike tied the game at 17-17.  However, Tiffin would end the set on an 8-1 run to win 25-18 and take a 2-0 match lead.

- The Dragons led 4-0 to start the third set and eventually 11-5.  Wayne State trimmed the deficit to one, 13-12, with a 6-1 run.  After the Warriors tied the game at 16-16 with a kill from Richardson, Tiffin took a 17-15 lead.  WSU would control the remainder of the set, winning 10 of the final 13 points to win 25-20.

- Wayne State trailed 9-3 to begin the fourth set.  A 5-0 run, including three kills from Richardson, pulled WSU within two at 9-7.  The Warriors then went on a 10-0 run, taking a 17-10 lead before Tiffin came all the way back to lead 23-22.  Points from Richardson and Frazee plus a TU error would allow WSU to tie the match at 2-2 with a 25-23 victory.

- In the race to 15, Tiffin led the fifth set 4-2.  Back-to-back kills from Richardson tied the set at 8-8 but Tiffin would pull out to an 11-9 advantage.  A Dragon error tied the set at 11-11 and the contest remained tied at 13-13.  TU led 14-13 but Richardson broke serve with a kill.  The Dragons would win the final two points to win 16-14 and the match 16-14.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Richardson paced the offense with 29 kills, while Frazee finished with 11.  Natalie Breault (Bad Axe, Mich.) tallied 34 assists and Duffield collected 23 helpers.  Richardson dug 25 balls, while Rodriguez garnered 20 digs.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
- Richardson and Rodriguez were named to the All-Tournament Team.  Richardson earned MVP accolades after totaling 70 kills and 57 digs in the four matches. 

UP NEXT
- Wayne State will continue its nine-match home stand on Friday as league play begins against Grand Valley State at 7:00 p.m.  The GLIAC-opening weekend concludes as the Warriors play host to Davenport for a 2:00 p.m. Saturday clash.