BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (3-1 overall) handled New Haven (0-4) in five sets to conclude its participation in the season-opening Ferris State Invitational on Saturday afternoon.  The Warriors won set one (25-17), set three (25-23) and set five (15-13).

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chargers scored the first three points of the opening set but a 10-2 run later in the game gave WSU a 12-7 advantage.  The momentum stayed with the Green & Gold after an ace from Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) and a UNH error pushed Wayne State's lead to 19-10.  The Warriors led 23-13 and eventually won 25-17 on a kill by Olivia Fike (North Branch, Mich.).

New Haven started fast again in the second set, leading 4-0 and 9-2.  The Chargers pushed the WSU deficit to 10, 18-8, following a 4-0 rally.  A late comeback attempt powered by an ace and a kill from Maddie Morrison (Flushing, Mich.) brought the Warriors within two, 24-22.  However, the rally would run out of time as UNH captured the 25th point on the next possession.

A 4-0 run gave the Chargers an 8-6 lead early in the third set but a kill from Fike, an ace by Julia Malewicz (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Academy for International Studies / Henry Ford II) and a UNH attacking error put Wayne State on top 9-8.  After New Haven tied the set at 9-9, the Warriors took the next five points.  Another point from Malewicz pushed the margin to 17-13 and WSU won the race to 20 on a UNH error.  The Chargers came back to tie the game at 23-23 before Summer Farris (Farmington Hills, Mich. / North Farmington) and another New Haven error gave the Warriors a 2-1 match lead.

A service ace from Malewicz staked Wayne State a 6-4 lead to start the fourth set but a 5-0 run by the Chargers would set the tone for the remainder of the set.  Consecutive kills from Madelyn Krenz (Chenoa, Ill. / Prairie Central) and Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore) gave WSU a 12-10 advantage.  Wayne State continued to lead 18-17 after another kill from Wagner but UNH won the next three points to take a 20-18 lead.  Wayne State was within two points of closing out the match at 23-20 but the Chargers won six of the final seven points to win the set 26-24 and force a fifth game.

The two sides traded punches to begin the fifth set but a quick 3-0 run pushed the Green & Gold ahead 6-3.  New Haven answered with a 5-0 rally to take an 8-6 lead.  Back-to-back points by Wagner and a Chargers error made it 10-9 in favor of Wayne State.  Krenz and Ferris delivered WSU's 12th point with a block but UNH won the next two points to lead 13-12.  The resilient Warriors found a way to win the final three points, including kills from Wagner and Krenz, and take the set 15-13.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Wagner bested her previous career-high of 19 kills (set on Friday) with 20 on 65 total attempts to go with 13 digs for her third double-double of the season.  Both Krenz and Malewicz posted 10-kill performances, while Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) distributed 46 assists and dug 19 balls.  Benoit anchored the defense with 23 digs, while Farris tallied seven of the 23 Wayne State blocks. 

ONE BIG THING
The WSU serve and receive game has been a strength early in the 2019 campaign and that was true again on Saturday.  The Warriors finished with 15 aces compared to UNH's four.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Wagner and Krenz were both named to the All-Tournament Team following the three-day event.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH KOTH
"Another gutty win for the Warriors against a very scrappy opponent.  Taylor had a big match recording 20 kills on her way to another double-double and freshman Maddie Morrison came in  and made some key plays in the fifth set.  Overall we learned a lot about ourselves this weekend and now we can get to work!"

UP NEXT
WSU will host the Warrior Invitational on Sept. 13-14 with 10 matches in two days inside the Matthaei.  The Warriors start the event against Ursuline at 2:30 p.m.