UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball program has a near identical match against Parkside Saturday afternoon to their match the day prior against Purdue Northwest. The Cardinals (4-17, 1-9 GLIAC) fell to the Rangers (9-13, 5-5 GLIAC) 3-2 with set scores of 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 19-25, 13-15.

Sarah Veale led the match with 28 kills and hit .304 with seven errors on 69 total attacks. She posted her eighth double-double with a team-high 17 kills. Ava Beard had a double-double as well with 45 assists and 14 digs. Ava Decker had six kills on 20 attacks along with a solo block and six block assists. Three other Cardinals were in double-digit digs as Elizabeth Bruschuk had 13 and Sedona Coon and Cola Sisk had 11.

Set One: Saginaw Valley 1, Parkside 0 (25-23)

The Cardinals fell behind 3-0 to start and after tying it 3-3, fell behind 10-5 with a Ranger 6-1 run. Parkside held the advantage for most of the set and had multiple six-point leads until SVSU dug back. A 5-0 run pulled the set within a point before UWP went back ahead 23-20. SVSU ended the set with a 5-0 run as Veale and Decker both had a kill and teamed up for a block to win the set.

Set Two: Saginaw Valley 2, Parkside 0 (25-21)

The momentum shift carried into the second set. Saginaw Valley slowly gained a 12-7 lead before pushing their advantage to eight with an 8-5 run out of a Parkside timeout. Ahead 20-12, SVSU tallied a couple points before a Ranger run brought the set to within two, SVSU ahead 23-21. The Cardinals closed out with the final two points, a block by Sage Schumacher and Coon and an ace by Sisk to take a 2-0 set advantage.

Set Three: Saginaw Valley 2, Parkside 1 (23-25)

The middle set was the greatest back and forth of the match showcasing 15 ties. The Cardinals grabbed a slim lead up 13-11 before the Rangers swung it in their direction with a 5-1 run to make it 18-15. SVSU used a 4-0 run to take the one-point edge before a 5-0 run for UWP made it 23-19 and put Saginaw Valley on the back foot. An ace from Bruschuk and a kill from Coon brought it within one before the final point and the set went to Parkside.

Seth Four: Saginaw Valley 2, Parkside 2 (19-25)

The Rangers offense exploded in the next set going ahead 12-5 with two 4-0 runs and a 3-0 run. SVSU cut into the lead bringing it down to three multiple times but couldn't ever get back in the set. A 5-2 run and 3-2 run down the stretch for UWP forced a decisive set five.

Set Five: Saginaw Valley 2, Parkside 3 (13-15)

The swings continued as the Cardinals jumped ahead 3-1, then Parkside had a 4-0 run to go up 5-3. SVSU responded with a 3-0 run and maintained the slim margin until a 3-0 run for the Rangers put them ahead 11-9. Saginaw Valley knotted the set at 11-11 and 13-13 but two kills for Parkside ended the set and match.

Up Next: Saginaw Valley volleyball is back at home on Thursday, October 31 as they host the Lake Superior State Lakers. It is Volleyween night at the Hamilton Gymnasium with costumes encouraged. The match is set for 7:00 PM EST.