MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Michigan Tech volleyball team opened the 2006 season at the Northern Michigan and TCF Bank Tournament today, where the Huskies fell 3-1 to St. Cloud State and 3-2 to #20 Abilene Christian.

SCSU defeated Tech by scores of 30-26, 27-30, 30-26, 30-28 in the final match of the evening.

Three Huskies recorded double-digits efforts in kills, including sophomores Jen Jung (Andover, Minn./Coon Rapids, Minn.), Christa Jung (Andover, Minn./Coon Rapids) and Veronica Armstrong (Battle Creek, Mich./Central). Jen Jung, who was named the Huskies' Superior Player of the Match, finished with a team-high 14 kills and also contributed five block assists and one block solo. Christa Jung tallied 10 kills and sustained a team-best .364 hitting percentage. Armstrong chipped in 13 kills, two service aces, nine digs, three block assists and one block solo.

Junior Kali Jeter (Middleton, Wis.) and redshirt freshman Kelly Jorgensen (Eden Prairie, Minn.) also provided balanced contributions. Jeter secured eight kills, seven digs and four block assists, while Jorgensen put up four kills, six block assists and one block solo.

Senior Amanda Mackenthun (Waconia, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) handed out 33 assists and newcomer Alison Greene (Andover, Minn./Totino Grace) added 19 assists and six digs off the bench.

Kelsey Skoog (Long Lake, Minn./Orono) picked up 15 digs.

For the match, the Huskies amassed 19.5 blocks, compared to SCSU's 13.5.

In the opening match of the tournament, Tech started with a hard-fought 30-27 victory in the first game, before dropping the next two games by scores of 34-32 and 30-25. The Huskies answered with a 30-20 triumph in the fourth game, but lost a tightly-contested fifth game by a 15-13 clip.

Veronica Armstrong led Tech's offensive attack with 14 kills in her first collegiate contest. She also added 13 digs to compile her first career double-double. Jen Jung notched 13 kills off a .500 hitting percentage, while also adding two block solos and a team-high six block assists. Redshirt freshman Kaari Nevanen (Duluth, Minn./East) had a strong collegiate debut, as she poured in 12 kills, two service aces and 12 digs. For her efforts, she was named Tech's Superior Player of the Match.

In her first match at libero, Kelsey Skoog led her squad with 17 digs. Amanda Mackenthun dished out 30 assists and chipped in 10 digs.

The Huskies held a statistical advantage over Abilene Christian in several categories, including hitting percentage (.286) and team blocks (13).

Michigan Tech's takes on Emporia State Saturday at 12:00 p.m. and concludes tournament play against Wisconsin-Parkside at 6:00 p.m.