ALLENDALE, Mich. -- For the first time in nearly eight years, the Wayne State University volleyball team (9-3 overall, 3-2 GLIAC) has won a true-road match against a top-25 opponent. Thursday night, the Warriors knocked off 18th-ranked Grand Valley State (9-3 overall, 4-1 GLIAC) 3-2 and were victorious in a second straight five-set affair for the first time since September of 2022.
"What an outstanding match in a great environment," said head coach
Tim Koth. "It took a total team effort, led by an outstanding performance from
Kayla Giroux. I'm very proud of our group, but now its back to work."
That last true-road victory over a ranked opponent? October 7, 2017, 3-2 at No. 7 Ferris State. The Warriors' last win over a top-25 foe regardless of venue came on August 25, 2018, 3-0 over No. 17 Winona State in Big Rapids. Wayne State also ended a four-match skid against Grand Valley State dating back to 2022.
Wayne State 3, Grand Valley State 2
HOW IT HAPPENED (-23, 17-25, 15-25, -12, -11)
- Wayne State hit .192 for the match with 56 kills and 26 errors on 156 total attacks.
- Grand Valley State finished with a .176 clip including 53 kills and 25 mishaps on 159 swings.
- The Warriors' best set came when they needed it the most, down two sets to one.
- In that fourth period, WSU hit a red-hot .444 with 13 kills and only one miscue on 27 attempts.
- The Lakers' most efficient stanza was the third at .300 (13, 4, 30).
- As coach mentioned,
Kayla Giroux was outstanding with 21 kills and only five errors on 45 total attacks for a .356 clip.
- Giroux racked up her most swings of the season while finishing just two kills shy of her personal best.
- The senior All-American also reached the 20-kill plateau in a match for the fifth time in her career and second instance this fall.
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Paige Giehtbrock also secured double-figure kills with 13 while
Katerina Stout and
Leigha Baldwin notched eight and seven respectively.
- In the process, Stout and Baldwin hit .292 and .286, respectively.
- Also on offense,
Kayla Dulgar tallied 45 assists while
Abby Macalaguim sent home a pair of service aces.
- Defensively, Giehtbrock locked up her 12th career double-double and second as a Warrior with 13 digs.
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Kendyl Andrews paced the dig category with 22 and Macalaguim was the other Warrior in double-digits with 13.
- Above the net, Giroux (five assisted) and Stout (one solo, four assisted) each registered five total blocks.
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Lauren Essenpreis (three assisted), Giehtbrock (two assisted), Baldwin (two assisted) and
Saige Martin (two assisted) each had multiple stuffs as well.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
UP NEXT
Wayne State will wrap up its four-match road swing on Friday at Purdue Northwest with the opening serve scheduled for 7 p.m. eastern time.
