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 Karri Kuczajda had seven kills and four block assists on Friday against Ashland. |
Oct. 13, 2006
DETROIT, Mich. - Homecoming weekend began on a sour note for the Wayne State volleyball team (1-17, 1-12 GLIAC) as they dropped a 3-0 decision to the Ashland Eagles (15-7, 9-4) on Friday night at the Matthaei.
Ashland jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first game before back-to-back kills from Miranda Robison (Coldwater, Mich.) cut the deficit to three. The Eagles pulled away to a 23-14 advantage before a Warrior timeout, followed by consecutive kills from Kristen Buter (Muskegon, Mich./North Muskegon) narrowed the score to 23-16. Ashland was able to hold off WSU in the end, however, with a 30-21 victory in game one.
Game two was a back-and-forth affair, with multiple lead exhanges but neither team able to gain more than a one-point advantage for the first half of the game. Wayne State called timeout down 16-15, and Ashland proceeded to take five of the next six for a 21-16 lead.
Strong play at the net kept the Warriors alive, including three blocks (one solo, two assist) by Jordan Peek (Birch Run, Mich./Frankenmuth), and Ashland called timeout when Wayne State tied the game at 22. The game went on to a 29-29 score, but the Eagles were forced to take another timeout when the Warriors grabbed a 30-29 lead. It proved valuable, as Ashland took three straight points and the game, 32-30.
Ashland led wire-to-wire in the third game, but as Wayne State found itself down 12-4, the Warriors took seven straight points to cut it to 12-11 and force the Eagles to call timeout. AU would not relinquish the lead, however, and the visitors went on to a 30-26 victory.
Wayne State had 11 team blocks to Ashland's two, with Peek leading the way with a solo block and four block assists. Mary Leverentz (Three Rivers, Mich.) had five block assists, and Karri Kuczajda (Waterford, Mich./Chelsea) added four.
Kuczajda also had seven kills and a .316 attack percentage, and Robison posted a double-double (14 kills, 12 digs). Kristi Pieper (Roseville, Mich./Fraser) had a match-high 22 digs.
The Warriors will battle the Findlay Oilers tomorrow (Oct. 14) at the Matthaei.
