UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball program kicked off the final weekend of the regular season by hosting Michigan Tech Friday evening. The Cardinals (6-20, 3-12 GLIAC) fell 3-1 to the Huskies (15-11, 9-7 GLIAC) with set scores of 25-20, 19-25, 25-21, and 25-18.

Sarah Veale led the match with 22 kills, breaking the 20-kill mark for the fourth time this season, as she hit .318 with eight errors on 44 attacks. Elizabeth Bruschuk and Sedona Coon both had 12 digs to lead SVSU defensively as Peyton Bartnikowski was one behind with 11. Jackie Scheiber ran the offense with 37 assists and had three block assists as well. Makaylah Roberts led in the middle of the court with eight blocks, one solo, along with six kills and two errors over 17 attacks.

Set One: Saginaw Valley 0, Michigan Tech 1 (20-25)

The Cardinals were able to claw back after 5-0 and 5-1 runs by the Huskies and bring the set within two using a 6-0 run including three kills by Veale and a Sage Schumacher ace. The 13-11 lead was extended by MTU with another 5-1 run before a 4-0 run for SVSU cut it to 18-16. Michigan Tech took six of the next seven points to bring it to set point and after a kill by Schumacher and two aces by Bartnikowski, the Huskies claimed the first set.

Set Two: Saginaw Valley 1, Michigan Tech 1 (25-19)

Both teams traded points to start until a 5-1 run for SVSU with three kills by Veale and an ace by Coon put them ahead 9-5. The two teams exchanged punches, but the Cardinals kept their slim lead. Two 3-0 runs extended the lead to seven before Coon tallied two of the final three points for Saginaw Valley to tie the match 1-1.

Set Three: Saginaw Valle 1, Michigan Tech 2 (25-21)

Saginaw Valley came back from a three-point deficit to start and claimed a one-point edge with a 5-1 run. The Huskies worked their way back in front with a 6-1 run. SVSU chipped away bringing the set within two points with a 4-1 run as Veale had two more kills. MTU took three of the next four points and a 2-1 set lead.

Set Four: Saginaw Valley 1, Michigan Tech 3 (25-18)

The Huskies started fast taking a 7-3 lead. They would slowly extend the lead as the Cardinals battled through the middle portion of the final set. A 4-0 run by Saginaw Valley made it 20-17. The Huskies capped off the set and match with a 5-1 run.

Up Next: Saginaw Valley has been eliminated from the GLIAC tournament with the loss and wraps up the 2024 season tomorrow, Saturday, November 16. The Cardinals host Northern Michigan for Senior Day. The match is set for 3:00 PM EST at the Hamilton Gymnasium with the Senior Day celebration starting before the match.