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Wayne State University Athletics

Julia Malewicz
Jose Juarez
Junior Julia Malewicz finished with a craeer-best 18 kills on Thursday night.
3
Winner Wayne State WSU 1-0
1
McKendree MCK 0-1
Winner
Wayne State WSU
1-0
3
Final
1
McKendree MCK
0-1
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Wayne State WSU 25 25 22 30 (3)
McKendree MCK 19 21 25 28 (1)

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

Volleyball Wins Season Opener in Four Sets

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (1-0 overall) bested McKendree (0-1 overall) in four sets on Thursday night as WSU took sets one (25-19), set two (25-21) and set four (30-28) to win the match.  The Warriors are playing in the Ferris State Invitational over the next three days. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Wayne State led the opening set 4-2 after a kill from Julia Malewicz (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Academy for International Studies / Henry Ford II).  A McKendree attacking error gave WSU a 10-6 advantage and another kill from Malewicz pushed the lead to 16-9.  Points from Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) and Summer Farris (Farmington Hills, Mich. / North Farmington) made it 21-14 and a service ace by Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) sealed the 25-19 set-one victory.

The Warriors led 8-7 early in the second set but the Bearcats stormed back to take a 13-9 advantage.  However, Wayne State responded with a 7-0 run to take a 16-13 lead.  A combo block from Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) and Farris produced WSU's 23rd point.  The Green & Gold held off a late McKendree rally and won 25-21.

Back-to-back kills from Krenz staked WSU to 6-5 advantage to start the third set.  The Bearcats led for much of the set but the Warriors tied the game at 20-20 on a point from Duffield.  WSU had a 22-21 lead after a kill by Farris but McKendree rattled off four straight points to win and avoid the sweep.

The Bearcats started fast in the fourth set and led 10-7.  WSU eventually tied the game at 14-14 but McKendree would lead 20-16.  The set was tied on several occasions down the stretch but McKendree led 28-27.  A kill from Krenz and consecutive attacking errors by the Bearcats gave WSU a 30-28.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Malewicz paced the offense with a career-high 18 kills on 51 swings, while Wagner totaled 17 kills and Krenz finished with 14.  Duffield dished out 56 assists and Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) led the defense with 25 digs.  Wagner also tallied 23 digs.

FROM COACH KOTH
"This was a great way for the Warriors to start the season with a win against a quality regional opponent. Our defense really stood out this evening and we had several nice offensive performances.  Madelyn Krenz, Taylor Wagner and Julia Malewicz all had solid performances."

ONE BIG THING
The Green & Gold hit .226 compared to the Bearcats' .163 hitting percentage.

UP NEXT
The Warriors will play twice on Friday beginning with Seton Hill at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude the day versus Bemidji State at 2:00 p.m.  Stay tuned to WSUAthletics.com for complete coverage of WSU Volleyball.

 
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