Volleyball Opens 2015 at 2-0

MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Michigan Tech volleyball team swept its two matches at the Wildcat Open today to start its 2015 season on a strong note. The Huskies took down both Upper Iowa and Fort Hays State (Kan.) in straight sets to open the year 2-0. 

"Start to finish today, it was a great team effort," said fourth-year Tech coach Matt Jennings. "We played for each other and beat two good teams.

"We had a lot of great performances. Our setter Rachel Pohlod came into her own and looked really comfortable running our offense; Aubrey Ficek was as aggressive and dominant as I've seen; and Mariah Sherman had a fantastic first day of her college career."

Michigan Tech 3, Upper Iowa 0

The Huskies took down Upper Iowa 25-22, 25-20 and 25-23 in their opening match. The victory marked the first by Tech to begin a season since a 3-1 win over Roberts Wesleyan on Aug. 31, 2012. 

A back-and-forth opening set saw the Huskies earn six of the final eight points to close out the win 25-22. Five straight points in the second set helped Tech erase a four-point Upper Iowa lead and roll to a 25-20 victory, and a late-set rally allowed the Black and Gold to clinch the match with a 25-23 score in the third and final set. 

Three Huskies had eight or more kills in the contest, including Ficek, who notched a team-high 11 and Sherman, who registered a .381 kill-percentage. Pohlod and Elle Heinonen were the only two Tech players to collect double-digit digs with 14 and 12, respectively.

Michigan Tech 3, Fort Hays State 0

Tech hit .289 as a team compared to .042 for the Tigers to sweep the best-of-five in three sets.

Sylvie Rokosh pounded home a kill to end the first set 25-18 after the Huskies scored 14 of the final 21 points of the frame.

The Black and Gold dominated set two with a 25-14 score. Stephanie Dietrich had five kills in the stanza as part of a team-high eight kills in the match.

Jacqueline Aird had four service aces in the third set as the Huskies jumped out to a 21-8 lead and cruised to a 25-18 final.

Dietrich hit .571 in the match. Sherman tied for team-high honors with eight kills. Aird had 11 assists and 11 digs for a double-double.

Michigan Tech will return to action with two more matches at the Wildcat Open tomorrow. The Huskies face Lake Superior State at 11 a.m. and Cedarville at 7 p.m.