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Wayne State University Athletics

Volleyball at SVSU
Wayne State will play in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals on Saturday.
3
Winner Wayne State WSU 17-11 Overall
1
Saginaw Valley SVSU 20-8 Overall
Winner
Wayne State WSU
17-11 Overall
3
Final
1
Saginaw Valley SVSU
20-8 Overall
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Wayne State WSU 22 25 27 25 (3)
Saginaw Valley SVSU 25 22 25 23 (1)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Cameron Weidenthaler, Assistant Media Relations Director

Volleyball Opens Postseason with Win at SVSU

DETROIT -- The fifth-seeded Wayne State University volleyball program (17-11 overall) began the GLIAC Tournament on Wednesday night at fourth-seeded Saginaw Valley State (20-8 overall) with a four-set win over the Cardinals to advance to Saturday's semifinal round.   The Warriors dropped the first set 22-25 before WSU responded with a 25-22 triumph in the second set and a thrilling 27-25 victory in the third set.  Wayne State won the match by taking the fourth set, 25-23.

The Warriors have won seven straight, which matches the longest streak since WSU won seven straight in 2016 from Sept. 24 to Oct. 14th. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cardinals jumped out to a 10-7 lead in the opening set but a kill from junior Olivia Fike (North Brand, Mich.) kept the Warriors close with a point on the following serve to make it 10-8.  The home advantage grew to 12-8 before a point by sophomore Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) cut the deficit to 12-9 but SVSU won the next two points to extend lead to 14-9, forcing head coach Tim Koth to use a timeout.  WSU trailed 16-10 but back-to-back Cardinal errors kept the Green & Gold within striking distance.  Sophomore Lauren VanderWal (Caledonia, Mich.) trimmed the SVSU lead to 19-17 with a kill.  A kill from senior Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) brought Wayne State within one, 20-19.  However, Saginaw Valley State captured the next two points to take a 22-19 lead.  The Cardinals took the set 25-22.

Wagner gave the Warriors an early 2-1 lead in the second set with a kill and a SVSU attacking error made it 3-1.  A service ace by freshman Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) gave WSU a 5-2 advantage.  Three straight points by the Cardinals gave the home team a 9-8 lead.  A kill from Wagner tied the game at 13-13 and an ace by Benoit on the ensuing serve put Wayne State on top.  Wagner continued to carry the Green & Gold attack and a kill gave WSU a 17-16 advantage.  The defense began to control the net and consecutive blocks by VanderWal and Fike pushed the visitors' lead to 19-16.  WSU's lead was 21-17 after an SVSU attacking error.  A 3-0 rally by the Cards cut Wayne State's lead to 21-20, as Koth used his second and final timeout.  The teams traded points down the stretch but the Warriors led 24-22 after another SVSU error and a setting error gave WSU a 25-22 victory to tie the match at 1-1.

The Cards led the third set 6-3 before a service error slowed SVSU's momentum.  Wagner tied the set at 7-7 with a change up attack and an ace by freshman Sam Palazzolo (Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica Eisenhower) gave the visitors an 8-7 advantage.  Wayne State took a 13-10 lead on a kill from junior Summer Farris (Farmington Hills, Mich. / North Farmington).  SVSU tied the set at 15-15 but a WSU block broke serve and gave the Warriors a 16-15 lead.  A point by Fike pushed the WSU lead to 19-17 but SVSU tied the set at 19-19 and took a 20-19 lead after a Wayne State timeout.  The margin grew to 22-20 after a long rally produced a point for the home side.  A kill from Krenz plus an attacking error tied the set at 22-22.  WSU errors gifted the Cardinals the next two points but the Warriors tied the set at 24-24 and a kill by Krenz gave Wayne State a 25-24 advantage and the Green & Gold won 27-25 on a combo block from Fike and Wagner.

SVSU started the fourth leading 6-3 but a point from Fike made it 6-4 and slowed the Cards' momentum.  The game was tied at 7-7 before WSU took an 8-7 lead with a Claire McWilliams (Muskegon, Mich. / Fruitport) service ace.  The set was tied at 11-11 but a Wagner kill gave the serve back to the Warriors with a 12-11 advantage.  Wayne State extended its lead to 15-12 forcing the Cardinals to take a timeout.  The Green & Gold continued to lead 17-13 after a Warrior block and held onto a slim 19-18 lead before SVSU tied the game at 19-19.  Following a WSU timeout Wayne State regained the lead, 20-19, on a kill from Krenz.  A Cards error gave the visitors a 23-22 advantage and WSU would go on to win 25-23.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Wagner finished with 23 kills and hit an impressive .409 to go with 16 digs.  Krenz chipped in with 14 kills.  Sophomore Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) dished out 44 assists plus a team-best 17 digs.

ONE BIG THING
Wayne State hit .297 compared to SVSU's .128.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will play at top-seeded Ferris State on Saturday afternoon in one of two GLIAC semifinals in Big Rapids.



 
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