DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (4-8 GLIAC) lost in four sets against Ashland (8-6 GLIAC) on Saturday afternoon.  The Eagles took set two (25-19), set three (25-23) and set four (25-23), while the Warriors won the opening set 27-25.  Redshirt senior Natalie Breault (Bad Axe, Mich.) was recognized prior to the match in a Senior Day ceremony with her parents in the stands.

HOW IT HAPPENED
A kill from freshman Jenna Kray (Westerville, Ohio / Worthington Christian) gave WSU a 4-1 lead to start the first set.  After AU had taken a 12-9 lead, the Green & Gold stormed back to take a 14-12 advantage powered by three service aces from senior Julia Malewicz (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Academy for International Studies / Henry Ford II).  The visitors led 21-19 but back-to-back points from redshirt sophomore Halle Shell (Port Huron, Mich. / Port Huron Northern) brought the Warriors within one, 23-22.  Shell continued to propel the offense with two more kills and an ace to give Wayne State a 25-24 lead.  Ashland won the next point but kills from Kray and junior Kamryn Duffield (Romeo, Mich.) gave WSU a 27-25 victory.

The second set was tied at 6-6 but Ashland but a home attacking error gave AU a 10-7 lead.  The visitors advantage grew to 17-12 before it was 21-15.  The Eagles would win set two 25-19.

WSU led the third set 7-5 after a kill from redshirt junior Lauren VanderWal (Caledonia, Mich.) and an ace by Duffield.  Ashland regained the lead, 11-9, and the two sides would trade points until a point by VanderWal tied the game at 16-16.  The Eagles held onto a 22-18 lead until a 3-0 run, including two kills from VanderWal made it 22-21.  WSU trailed 23-22 and 24-23 but were unable to tie the set down the stretch as AU won 25-23.

The third set was tied at 4-4 after a kill from redshirt junior Taylor Wagner (St. Joseph, Mich. / Lakeshore).  However, Ashland led 11-5 but the Warriors would find their rhythm and come back to take a 16-15 lead following kills from Wagner and Duffield.  An ace by Wagner and a kill from VanderWal gave WSU a 19-17 advantage.  The set was tied at 21-21 and the Eagles would win four of the final six points to win 25-23 and the match 3-1.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
VanderWal led WSU with 19 kills, while Wagner had a double-double of 17 kills and 13 digs.  Shell matched her career-best with 10 kills and finished with .500 hitting percentage.  Duffield finished with 50 assists and sophomore Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) had 21 digs, while sophomore Sam Palazzolo (Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica Eisenhower) tallied 11 digs.

UP NEXT
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