UNIVERSITY CENTER -- The SVSU Volleyball team hosted the Wayne State Warriors on Wednesday (Nov. 20) evening in the 2019 GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Cardinals, playing as the No. 4 seed, fell in the fourth set to No. 5 seed Wayne State by a score of 25-23 in favor of the Warriors.
The Cardinals used a solid .333 hitting percentage in the opening set to take a 25-22 victory. SVSU led by as many as six points at 16-10 in the opening frame and were able to hold-off a WSU comeback with the Warriors getting to within a single point twice late. Leading 23-22, Saginaw Valley used a kill from Haley Clum and a service ace from Peyton Gerstacker to finish-off the 25-22 win.
Set No. 2 went to the Warriors by the same 25-22 score in their favor. The largest deficit seen in the second was a three-point lead by Wayne State, which came twice at the 19-16 and 21-18 points. SVSU worked its way back and tied the match at 22-22 but the Warriors closed-out with three straight points to tie the match at 1-1.
Wayne State was able to hold on for a 27-25 victory in a thrilling third set, taking a 2-1 lead overall in the match. Once again, the score difference never surpassed three points and the lead bounced back and forth throughout. With the frame tied at 22-22, SVSU got a kill and ace from Hannah Tabit to take a 24-22 edge. The Warriors rallied back from there, taking the next three and eventually claiming the set by that 27-25 count.
The Warriors took set four in a a heartbreaking, 25-23, loss late in the set. The Warriors held the largest lead of the match of three points with a count of 15-12. A kill by Rylee Zimmer, a Warrior error, and a service ace by Peyton Gerstacker would knot the match 19-19. The Cardinals went on to outscore Wayne State, 2-1, to take a 21-20 lead but the Warriors responded by taking a 23-22 lead. The Warriors would end the match with the final two kills and close the fourth set, 25-23, taking the match, 3-1.
Inside the Boxscore
- Hannah Tabit had a team high 49 assists and added six blocks for the Cardinals, earning her 'Player of the Match' honors.
- Leading the Cardinals offensively was senior Sarah Tabit who posted a .327 hitting percentage on 25 kills and added 12 digs and a block.
- Posting a season high of nine blocks was Emily Friesl. Friesl added eight kills and an assist.
- Maria Vukaj added 15 kills, 11 digs, and a pair of blocks.
From Head Coach Will Stanton...
"Our serving was solid, and Sarah Tabit was a monster hitting tonight. Our blocking did some good things, but we just couldnt' generate enough consistent offense. Wayne State did a good job with their offense and we couldn't take advantage of their bad passes often enough."
Up Next...
Saginaw Valley, ranked No. 9 in the most recent regional ranking, will await announcement of the post season Championship berths.
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