WSU Finishes Tied For Second
At Findlay Classic

FINDLAY, Ohio – In its ninth game of the season, the Wayne State volleyball team surpassed its win total from 2001 (six) by defeating Lock Haven (Pa.) 3-1 in day two of the Findlay Classic (Sept. 14). The Warriors defeated LHU 30-22, 18-30, 30-16, 30-23 in the four-game match then rounded out the weekend with a 3-0 sweep of St. Joseph's (Ind.).

The Warriors trailed 6-0 in the third game when they went on a 16-4 run that included two of Jaime Banners’ three aces and three Darcie Amsdill kills to put the Warriors ahead, 16-10. Amsdill had her best output of the season, connecting on 12 of 23 attempts (.478 hitting percentage). In game three, Amsdill was a perfect four-for-four on her attacks.

Megan Smolen led the team for the sixth time this season with 15 kills and three service aces.

WSU wrapped up the tournament with a rematch against St. Joseph’s (Ind.). The Pumas defeated Wayne State, 3-2, at the Wheeling Jesuit Tournament on Aug. 31. This time it was a different story, blanking the Pumas 30-24, 30-23 and 30-15.

Wayne State came out with fire in game one as Amsdill and Allison Jurasek each recorded four big kills and the Warriors won, 30-24.

Game two started off slow for WSU. Trailing 6-1, WSU rallied to tie the game at 11 apiece. From there, the Warriors went on for the 30-23 victory.

Banners and the rest of the Warrior hitters came on strong in the final stanza, hitting .281 as a team. Banners had five kills and Wayne State finished off the Pumas, 30-15, to improve its record to 8-2.

As a team, the Warriors finished in a tie for second place with Wheeling Jesuit; host school Findlay won the tournament. Jurasek and Smolen were both named to the seven-member all-tournament team. Jurasek compiled 36 kills, 40 digs, and 17.0 blocks over the weekend and Smolen had 52 kills, 53 digs, and 12 service aces.

Wayne State opens up its GLIAC schedule Tuesday, Sept. 17 with a road trip to Hillsdale beginning at 7 p.m.