ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Michigan Tech volleyball team had its season come to an end after it lost to Saginaw Valley State 3-0 (17-25, 23-25, 20-25) in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament this afternoon (Nov. 21). Saginaw (23-7) will face Northern Kentucky tomorrow in the second round. The Huskies finish the year with a 19-11 record, its best finish since 1997 when it finished 23-13.

"We are disappointed with our match today," said head coach Krista Mikesch. "We were not satisfied with just getting in the tournament. We wanted to go further than we did in 2006."

Tech lost to Southern Illinois Edwardsville 3-2 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in 2006.

"Saginaw got out to a 9-1 lead in the first set and that really set the momentum for the rest of the match," said Mikesch.

The Huskies, who entered the match averaging a league-best 2.72 blocks per set, averaged just 1.0 block per set against the Cardinals. Saginaw finished the match with 3.3 blocks per set.

"They pass the ball around quite a bit and that caused us to only be able to have one blocker challenge their attacks," said Mikesch. "When we don't block well we struggle and that is what happened today."

Junior Veronica Armstrong recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 14 digs to lead the Huskies. Senior setter Kelsey Skoog finished with 21 assists on the day.

Sarah Redoute finished with a match-high 14 kills and Allison Schlinkert chipped in 10 kills to for SVSU.

Four players appeared in their match for the Huskies, senior Christa Jung, senior Jen Jung, senior Kelsey Skoog and junior Kelly Joregensen.

"These four players have meant a lot to the volleyball program at Michigan Tech," said Mikesch. "They did a great job of improving the program over their four years at Tech."