Northwest Wayne News

Wayne State University's volleyball team experienced a mixed start at the 2024 Warrior Invitational in Detroit. The team achieved a decisive victory against Frostburg State, winning in straight sets, but later faced defeat in a closely contested five-set match against Northwood. They are set to play their final match of the event on Saturday against Ohio Dominican.

"There were a lot of positives to build off of from this opening day of the season," said head coach Tim Koth. "We showed improvement in almost every phase of the game, but there's still some room for growth. Tomorrow is another day."

In their first match, Wayne State demonstrated offensive strength by hitting .301 compared to Frostburg State's .078. The Warriors accumulated 32 kills with only 10 errors over 73 attacks, while also excelling in service aces and blocks. Thirteen points were gained through Frostburg State's service errors.

Key players for Wayne State included Molly Miller with 12 kills and Katie Smith contributing seven. Maya Wegand and Kendyl Andrews each scored two aces, while Ella Uganski led in blocks alongside Leigha Baldwin and Kayla Giroux.

In the second match against Northwood, Molly Miller recorded her eighth double-double with 22 kills and 11 digs. Kayla Dulgar was notable for providing 49 assists, nearing her personal record. Despite strong individual performances and improved offensive efficiency throughout the match, Wayne State fell short as Northwood managed a higher overall hitting percentage and clinched the final set with impressive accuracy.