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 Megan Smolen moved into fifth on the career dig list. |
Sept. 16, 2005
DETROIT - The Warrior volleyball squad (8-2, 0-2 GLIAC) rolled to a game one victory, but dropped the next three game and the match to the University of Findlay (8-5, 1-1 GLIAC) Friday night at the Matthaei. Game scores were 24-30, 30-27, 30-23 and 30-25 between the two I-75 GLIAC South rivals.
The Warriors trailed early in game one, but senior Elisa Joris (Walled Lake, Mich./Western) served five straight points and the team went up 7-4. Outside hitter Megan Smolen (Grosse Ile, Mich.) then had three consecutive service aces for a 24-18 advantage and the game-winning kill. Smolen also totaled 15 kills to move into fifth place on the career digs list with 1103, passing Deanna Lowe (1988-91).
Game two was neck-and-neck the entire time. Junior Kristi Pieper (Roseville, Mich./Fraser) gave WSU a 5-2 lead with back-to-back aces, but the score was tied at every point from 5-5 to 13-13. In all, the second game was tied 16 times, as UF came out on top 30-27.
The third set was much like the second until the later stages. Smolen teamed up for three block assists in WSU's first 16 points, but the Oilers went on a six-point run to earn the win.
Trailing 5-0 in the fourth, Wayne State rallied back with a pair of block assists and a come-back kill by Joris. The Warriors tied the game at 15 on a block by Joris and sophomore Jordan Peek (Birch Run, Mich./Frankenmuth). Findlay got some breathing room with a four-point run in the middle of the game and held on for the win.
Joris led the team with 16 kills and eight total blocks, while Smolen recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 11 kills and her 15 digs.
Wayne State has the weekend off before hosting Ashland on Tuesday night (7 pm) to wrap up a three-match homestand.
