Michigan Tech

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Michigan Tech volleyball team fell 3-2 to No. 5 St. Cloud State on Friday afternoon at the UP North Tournament at Vandament Arena. Tech handed SCSU its first set losses of the year, but the Huskies from Minnesota won 15-11 in the fifth.
 
"It was another incredible five-set match, and I am so proud of this team for playing to their potential again after a heartbreaker last night," Tech coach Cindy Pindral said. "Our defense was lights out and at times our offense was unstoppable. We serve-received very well, and Maddy Kreider directed our offense with so much strategy and excellent execution. Rachel and Keeley were players of the game for us, and Brynn was amazing too.
 
"Of course, we wanted this to go our way in the end, but we consider this a win given the way we played. We will rest and regroup for two matches tomorrow where we will be tasked with maintaining the same level of play."
 
The match followed a similar pattern as Thursday against Minnesota Duluth, with the Black and Gold taking the first (25-19) and fourth (25-19) sets. SCSU won 25-17 and 25-23 in the second and third frames. Both matches were two hours and 20 minutes long.
 
There were 18 ties and 10 lead changes Friday, with eight lead changes in the first and seven in the third.
 
Rachel Zurek tallied a match-high 23 kills while hitting .286. Kayla Heinonen notched 10 kills and 15 digs. Tricia Kennedy (nine kills), Madelyn Torola (eight kills), and Paige Wagner (seven kills) added to the offense, and Madelyn Kreider set the attack with 52 assists.
 
Keeley Nellis tallied 29 digs to lead four Huskies in double figures. Madelynn Kreider (13) and Brynn Erickson (12) also hit double figures defensively.
 
The Huskies in red improved to 4-0 and were led in kills by Carlie Willis and Shelby Kimm with 20. Braya LaPlant tallied 43 assists, while Kimm and Laurin Hamann racked up 25 digs.
 
Tech (0-2) wraps up its weekend at the UP North Tournament with a pair of matches on Saturday in Marquette on the campus of Northern Michigan. The Huskies face Cal State East Bay at 9 a.m. and Winona State at 2 p.m.