Tech remains unbeaten at Keweenaw Classic with two wins Friday Play Video

Tech remains unbeaten at Keweenaw Classic with two wins Friday

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech volleyball team picked up a pair of sweeps Friday (Sept. 6) at the Country Inn & Suites Keweenaw Classic at the SDC Gym. The Huskies defeated the University of Mary in the afternoon and Minnesota Crookston in the evening.

"It was a long day, but we played well in both matches," Tech coach Matt Jennings said. "We had a slow start this morning, but I'm happy with the way we responded. We were able to get a lot of people in and got to see some different looks. The second match was a cleaner one. That was the cleanest we've played all weekend."

Michigan Tech 3, Mary 0

The Huskies let Mary hang around for the first two sets. Tied at 22 late in the frame kills by Rachel Ping, Anna Jonynas, and MacAulay Petersen gave Tech the 1-0 lead.

Emilia Widen made her presence felt late in the second set with a kill to make it set point and then finished it off with a solo block for a 25-19 win and 2-0 lead.

Tech hopped out to an early lead in the third and held on after riding quality serving from the back row players Anna Jonynas, Megan Utlak, Kristine Fink, and Grace Novotny.

Olivia Ghormley led the offense with 12 kills, hitting four in each set. Laura De Marchi set up the offense with 26 assists. Utlak had 18 digs while Jonynas added 15.

Michigan Tech 3, Minnesota Crookston 0

Tech dominated from the outset with a commanding 25-10 win in set one. Olivia Ghormley pounded down seven kills with MacAulay Petersen finding her groove with seven. The Huskies hit .531 in the first frame.

Ghormley got even hotter in the second with nine kills as the Black and Gold once again dominated 25-12 going into the break. Laura De Marchi served on 10 of the points, including a 6-0 run early in the set.

Coach Jennings mixed in some players in the third set with Courtney Kurkie, Morgan Radtke, and Janie Grindland getting plenty of action. Ghormley and Anna Jonynas had four kills in the third as the home team won 25-18 to remain unbeaten on the young season.

Tech hit .402 in the match with 50 kills. Ghormley finished with 20 kills against the Golden Eagles and was joined in double figures by Petersen's 10. De Marchi had 41 assists and 10 digs. Megan Utlak and Jonynas had 15 digs each.

The Huskies wrap up the Keweenaw Classic on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Upper Iowa.

"We have to play good ball and clean ball to finish off the weekend," added Jennings. "We need to be the aggressor, but we just need to do us. We always battle with Upper Iowa. They're a good team and a well-coached team."

The tournament continues Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. when Mary and Lake Superior State faceoff.