WSU Splits At Findlay Tournament

FINDLAY, Ohio – The Wayne State volleyball (6-2) winning streak came to a sudden halt Friday, Sept. 13 against Wheeling Jesuit at the Findlay Volleyball Classic. The Warriors fell to WJU 3-1 (30-15, 30-21, 19-30, 30-21), they had won the past four matches.

In the second match of the night, the Warriors struggled early, dropping the first two games to Alderson Broaddus, but Wayne State rallied back to win the match in five (23-30, 31-33, 30-24, 30-28, 15-4).

Wheeling Jesuit used its vertical strength as eight Cardinal players recorded a block to combine for 17.5 total team blocks compared to just 8.5 by WSU.

Wayne State’s top hitter, Megan Smolen, continued her hot streak as she recorded a game-high 14 kills and t eam-high 16 digs. Senior co-captain Allison Jurasek had the Warriors’ highest hitting percentage at .333 and 5.0 total blocks, including three solo stuffs. Both players served up a team-high two aces in the match.

The Warriors hit a season-low .117 at the net and hurt themselves from the service line with only five aces and 11 service errors.

Against Alderson Broaddus, it is the second time WSU has defeated the Battlers in the young season. The Warriors beat AB 3-1 at the Wheeling Jesuit Tournament on Aug. 31.

WSU had 67 total kills, including 19 by Smolen, 16 by Darcie Amsdill, and 12 by Jaime Banners. Amsdill had the highest hitting percentage at .308.

Junior co-captain Rebecca Hague had a season-high 55 assists in the five-game match, bringing her total to 305 this year.

The Warriors also improved their blocks with 15.0 led by Banners’ 4.0.

Action at the Findlay Classic concludes Saturday, Sept. 14 with the Warriors facing Lock Haven at 11 am and a re-match from an early-season loss with St. Joseph’s (IN) at 3 pm.