AURORA, Ill. — The Michigan Tech volleyball team split its two matches on the final day of the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament today. The Huskies lost to Lewis 3-0 before defeating UW-Parkside 3-2.
Tech played three tight sets against the GLVC's fourth-ranked team in the morning match. The Huskies held a 15-11 lead in the opening frame and were tied late in both the second and third. The Flyers won all three with set scores of 25-20, 25-22 and 25-21, respectively.
Lauren Emmert led the way with 10 kills, and Kendall Ward added nine more.
"Today was an important day for our team. We played as a unit from start to finish, beginning with Lewis. We were point for point with them until late in each set, when their experience and depth put them ahead.
"We played very well, and it gave us a ton of confidence going into the Parkside match."
Michigan Tech bounced back in the evening tilt against UW-Parkside, a team it had lost to at home to open the season (Sept. 4). The Huskies defeated the Rangers 3-2 for their first win in a five-set match this season.
Parkside took set one 25-20, but the Huskies came back and won sets two and three with scores of 25-23 and 25-19. The Rangers put up another 25-20 victory in set four, setting up a fifth frame.
Emmert and Ward teamed up for a block to put the Black and Gold up 11-5 in the final set. Kills by Noelle Eveland and Rachel Pohlod inched the Huskies closer. A service error by UWP was the last point in a 15-10 final.
Stephanie Dietrich was the team leader in kills with 12. Sylvie Rokosh also reached double digits with 10 while Emmert and Ward posted nine apiece. Pohlod finished with 40 assists, 17 digs and seven kills. Jacqueline Aird recorded 28 digs and a team-high five service aces.
"Our main goal for the weekend was to grow as a team and use the opportunity to play three experienced and successful teams to get better as we enter our final push of the season," said Jennings. "There is no doubt we accomplished that today, particularly with how we came through against Parkside. It was a total team effort. I'm so proud of this group."
Michigan Tech sits at 9-11 overall heading into the final three weeks of the season. Tech resumes conference play at Ferris State on Friday (Oct. 24).
