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 Megan Smolen recorded her fifth double-double vs. HC. |
Sept. 13, 2005
DETROIT - WSU's volleyball team (8-1, 0-1 GLIAC) suffered its first loss of the season with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to GLIAC rival Hillsdale Tuesday night at the Matthaei. The Chargers (8-4, 1-0) came from behind to win 28-30, 30-21, 29-31, 30-21 and 15-13 in the conference opener for both squads.
The Warriors jumped out to a 6-0 lead in game one as senior Elisa Joris (Walled Lake, Mich./WL Western) had three kills and a block assist to open the match. HC went on a 5-1 run to take a 23-18 lead only to have WSU answer with a 5-1 run of its own. Junior Kristi Pieper (Roseville, Mich.) served out the final five points of the game that included two Megan Smolen (Grosse Ile, Mich.) kills and a block assist by Smolen and Joris.
Hillsdale took game two, 30-21, to snap the Warriors' 13-game winning streak. In the third game, WSU held a 12-9 advantage thanks in part to a pair of aces by junior Michelle Bittner (Hamtramck, Mich.). The remainder of the game was tight until sophomore Jordan Peek (Birch Run, Mich./ Frankenmuth) and Joris gave the Warriors a 2-1 lead in the match with back-to-back kills.
Game four went to HC by 30-21 score as well, but Wayne State came out on fire in the decisive game five. WSU led 6-0 with junior Kelly Sines (Clinton, Mich.) serving. Consecutive block assists by setter Kerri Royer (Lawton, Mich.) and Joris put the Warriors up 9-2. Another Joris kill gave WSU a 10-4 lead, but the Chargers scored eight straight points and went on for the 15-13 win.
Joris recorded a team-best 20 kills and 12 total blocks (2-10) for her fourth double-double of the season. Smolen also recorded a double-double with 18 digs and 13 kills, while Royer had 41 assists and 16 digs.
The Warriors continue league play with another home divisional match Friday against Findlay at 7 pm.
