 |
 Elisa Joris had career highs in kills (23) and digs (18). |
Oct. 10, 2004
DETROIT - The Wayne State volleyball team was forced to a fifth game for the first time this season and came out with a 3-2 (28-30,31-29,30-27,28-30,15-13) win over the visiting Michigan Tech Huskies Sunday afternoon in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at the Matthaei Center. With the victory the Warriors are now 10-8 overall and 5-5 in the GLIAC; Tech falls to 8-13, 5-5.
After dropping a close game one, the Warriors bounced back in the second thanks to the hitting of middle blockers Sofi Berczely (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Elisa Joris (Walled Lake, Mich./Western). WSU took a 24-23 lead after Berczely pounded down three consecutive kills. Three more kills by Joris put Wayne State up 27-26, but the Huskies tied the game at 29. Berczely had her fourth straight attempt go in for a kill and the Warriors won 31-29.
Game three seemed to be all Joris'. WSU took an early 4-0 lead in the next game that included points off of two Joris block solos. The Warriors seven (19-12) when Joris served up one of her four aces on the day. She then had back-to-back-to-back kills to give the Warriors a 27-23 lead. WSU would eventually win the game on a serving error by Michigan Tech to go up two games to one.
MTU battled back relentlessly in the fourth game and came away with the 30-28 win.
Both teams hung close in the decisive game five that included six ties. Michigan Tech took a slight two-point lead (9-7) before Berczely tied the score at 10. MTU went on another mini rally for a 13-11 lead, but WSU retained service with Joris back behind the line. A block solo by junior Kelita Sinclair (Caledon, Ont./Turner Fenton) tied the game for the final time. On the next serve, Joris recorded her fourth aces of the match and the Warriors held on for the 15-13 win.
Joris finished with career highs in kills (23) and digs (18). WSU had six players who had more than 10 digs, including a school-record and GLIAC-record 46 by junior libero Sei Hee Hwang (Toronto, Ont./Cedarbrae).
Senior Leslie Coxon (Mason, Mich./Minn. State) also had her first double-double as a Warrior with 19 assists and 11 digs. Megan Smolen (Grosse Ile, Mich.) had 21 digs and 15 kills for her 10th double-double of the season. Kristi Pieper (Roseville, Mich./Fraser) also had a career-best 21 digs in the match.
The Warriors travel to Ferris State on Oct. 15 at 5:00 pm.
