Volleyball’s Third Set Comeback Not Enough at LTU

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SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — After going down two-sets-to-none, Marygrove women’s volleyball (4-13, 1-8 WHAC) willed their way back into the contest with a third-set win to begin a comeback Wednesday (Oct. 1) at Lawrence Tech. The comeback would be short-lived as the host Blue Devils (7-10, 3-6 WHAC) won the fourth set and the match, sending the Mustangs to their fifth straight defeat. With the road setback, the Mustangs matched their season-high for consecutive losses (five) as the team left Southfield searching for its first win since a Sept. 20 decision over Concordia-Ann Arbor.

The host Blue Devils shot out to a 4-0 lead in the first set and never looked back, winning the opening game 25-19. The Mustangs were able to cut the Blue Devil lead to three on a pair of occasions, but could never make up for the early deficit to go down by a set in the road conference match.

Third-year head coach Jamie Baker and the Mustangs looked to even up the match in the second set, but were outdone by an 11-kill, one error performance by the Blue Devils in the frame. The Blue Devils went on to win the set, 25-16, to take a commanding lead in Wednesday evening’s match. The Mustangs kept the second set close, drawing even with the Blue Devils twice, but never gained a lead to go down by a two-set margin.

The Mustangs were able to put it all together in the third set, narrowly defeating the Blue Devils to avoid the sweep. A 10-kill third set lifted the Mustangs to the 25-23 decision as the Green & Gold never trailed in the stanza. The win cut the match deficit in half as the Mustangs looked to sneak out a fourth-set win to force a deciding fifth frame in Southfield.

Fourth-set action would not go the Mustangs way as the Blue Devils won going away, 25-11, to take the important conference match.

Senior middle hitter Kiara Cobbs (Detroit, Mich./King High School) led the Mustangs with nine kills and three blocks as she continued her recent string of strong performances. Cobbs was followed by sophomore outside hitter Ashley Murphy (Southfield, Mich./Livonia Clarenceville High School) with seven kills and Hailey Brandes (Southgate, Mich./Anderson High School) with five.

Kara Kempinski (Livonia, Mich./Schoolcraft College) recorded 18 digs and added a service ace to round out the top performers for the Mustangs.

The Blue Devils were led by Kasey Clark with 17 digs in three sets played for a .342 hitting percentage. As a team, the Blue Devils posted a .300 hitting percentage compared the Mustangs’ .049 mark.

The Mustangs will return to the NWAC to host a pair of matches over the weekend. The home double-dip kicks off with a Friday (Oct. 3) evening matchup against Siena Heights at 7 p.m., and is followed by a 1 p.m. opening serve Saturday (Oct. 4) when Aquinas visits Detroit.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL CONTACT: Tim Johnston | tjohnston@marygrove.edu | @tjohnston56
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