Kenosha, Wis. – The SVSU Volleyball team opened up their 2018 campaign with a sweep on day one of the Parkside Hampton Inn Invitational, taking game one 3-2 over Bemidji State and 3-2 in game two over the tournament host, Wisconsin-Parkside.
Game One: SVSU 3 - BSU 2
Saginaw Valley State opened up the 2018 campaign with a 25-20 set one victory over Bemidji State at the Parkside Tournament. Reagan Moffitt led the Cardinals with four kills produced by a spectacular performance from Hannah Tabit who racked up 11 assists to start the match.
The second set was near perfect for the Beavers as they posted 14 kills and only one error from the front line. The Cardinals struggled to respond, posting seven errors to their 16 kills. Bemidji State went on to finish the set 25-21, tying up the contest, 1-1.
Set three was neck and neck between the teams, with Sarah Tabit recording three of the first six SVSU points from the outside. Bemidji State responded with a six point run, leaving the Cardinals trailing 12-8. A kill by freshman Maria Vukaj stopped the BSU run, but it wasn't until an ace from S. Tabit that put Saginaw Valley back on top 16-15. SVSU would not be able to hang onto the set with the Beavers taking set three 29-27, edging out a 2-1 lead.
Bemidji State began to struggle offensively in set four, producing eight of SVSU's first 10 points from their own errors. The Beavers faught back and battled for the remainder of the contest, but this time it would fall in the Cardinals favor. The match was now split 2-2 heading into the final set.
The Cardinals heated up in the fifth set, posting a season high hitting percentage of .778 with 8 kills, one error, on nine attempts. SVSU takes the set, 15-5, and the match, 3-2.
Inside the Box Score:
- Freshman Vukaj racked up 19 kills, 2 aces and 10 digs, notching her first double-double on the season, becoming the first "Player of the Match" in 2018
- Middles Emily Friesl and Haley Clum each added 12 kills, while S. Tabit added
- Setter H. Tabit added her career high of 58 assists
- Abbie Toland added 28 digs in the libero spot for the Cardinals
From Head Coach Will Stanton
"Our offense was pretty solid and our outside hitters were pretty consistent band strong. Our blocking wasn't as much of a factor as we feel it should be, so we need to keep working on that."
Game Two: SVSU 3 - UWP 2
The night cap game begin behind schedule for the Cardinals versus newly added GLIAC member, Wisconsin-Parkside, but it did not slow them down one bit.
Saginaw Valley took set one 25-21, totalling 13 kills while holding the Rangers to a .111 hitting percentage. Friesl led the pack with six kills and a solo block.
Wisconsin-Parkside responded in set two, posting a .235, while keeping the Cardinals below .200 for only the second time today. H. Tabit recorded 11 assists in the set along with two blocks. Although, late errors by SVSU cost them a set two victory, 25-23. UWP then tied up the contest, 1-1.
The Cardinals showed no mercy in set three, taking a quick 25-19 victory over the Rangers. SVSU's freshman phenom, Vukaj, impacted the third set when she led the team with five kills, while both middle hitters, Clum and Friesl added four more to round out the top three attackers at the conclusion of the set.
With a tight fourth set, SVSU had to battle to stay close in the score books against UWP. As the clock passed 11 p.m., the errors seemed to happen more and more frequently on both sides of the ball. The Rangers ended up taking the set four victory, 25-23, but only hit a .135, while the Cardinals hit an even zero.
In the first 10 points of the final set of the night, there were no errors, only 10 straight kills split evenly between the two teams. Luckily, two back-to-back Ranger errors after that pushed the Cardinals to start pulling ahead. Saginaw Valley pushed their lead to four (10-6) and eventually went onto take the final point with a huge stuff block from H. Clum and H. Tabit. SVSU takes the win, 15-13 and the match, 3-2.
Inside the Box Score:
- Friesl had an impressive time at the net tonight, posting 16 kills, four digs and five blocks, earning herself the player of the match
- Vukaj had her second double-double of the night, with 12 kills and 12 digs
- H. Clum added nine kills and three blocks from the middle
- Tamara Heller added 17 digs from the libero position
From head coach Will Stanton:
"Our middle hitters really carried us this match, and showed some good toughness. Again our serve receive and serving held pretty strong, and really put us in some good situations to be successful."
Up Next...
The Cardinals will finish up play at the Parkside Hampton Inn Invitational tomorrow against Purdue Northwest at noon and Minn.-Crookston at 4 p.m. Live stats and video links are available on the volleyball schedule page.
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