Mastodons Slip in Summit League Opener

Friday, September 14

Rochester, Mich.

7 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

9-3, 0-1

Oakland

8-4, 1-0

IPFW

Oakland

Photo by: Lucas Carter

9/14/2012 9:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score

ROCHESTER, Mich. -- IPFW took a tough road loss at Oakland in the Summit League opener as the Golden Grizzlies held off the Mastodons in a five-set match 18-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-13, 13-15.

The Mastodons (9-3, 0-1) had four players reach a double figure kill total against Oakland. Emily Spencer led the team in the kill category for the 10th time this season with 16. She added 13 assists to register her seventh double-double of the year. Kendall Wienkes played well for IPFW on Friday night setting a new season-high with 14 kills. She added 15 digs and six blocks, earning her first double-double of the season. Middle Hitters Hailie Ripley and Jessie Manwaring also played well by recording 13 kills each.

Meghan Bray dominated the match with 29 kills and 21 digs for the Golden Grizzlies. Taylor Humm was the only other Grizzly to record 10 or more kills. She finished the game with 14 kills and 23 digs.

Megan Steenhuysen used a five-set match to set a new season-high assist total. The senior recorded a match-high 55 assists while also recordings 11 digs. IPFW's dig leader was once again Tessa McGill with 25, but Jen Milligan also got in on the action tonight with a season-high 21 digs.

The Mastodons dropped set one 18-25. The game started off close and an Emily Spencer kill cut the Oakland lead to 8-7, but the Golden Grizzlies would soon take complete control of the set by scoring eight-straight points. A kill from Jessie Manwaring cut the lead to 15-20, but IPFW wouldn't get any closer as Oakland jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Meghan Bray was a force at the net for Oakland recording eight kills and a block, while Ciara Schultz chipped in with two kills and four assists. The duo of Megan Steenhuysen and Hailie Ripley led IPFW in the first set. Steenhuysen recorded 10 assists, while Ripley tallied three kills and a block.

IPFW tied the match at 1-1 by winning the second set 25-22. The game was tied 21-21, before back-to-back kills from Kendall Wienkes and Hailie Ripley. A service error from IPFW put Oakland back within a point, but the 'Dons would hold on to score the final two points of the set off kills from Haley Emenhiser and Emily Spencer. Steenhuysen continued to set up her teammates by recording 17 assists in the second set. Spencer matched Bray offensively as each player tallied six kills.

The Golden Grizzlies used a string of runs to win the third set 25-18. Wienkes gave IPFW an early 4-3 lead, but Oakland would come back to score the next four points. The 'Dons cut deficit to 7-10, but the Golden Grizzlies once again grabbed the momentum by scoring five-straight points. IPFW never recovered from the scoring streaks as the Golden Grizzlies held a comfortable lead the rest of the game giving Oakland a 2-1 lead. Taylor Humm impacted the third set for Oakland by recording seven kills. Wienkes was the bright spot for IPFW tallying five kills and two blocks.

IPFW would not go down without a fight as the Mastodons won the fourth set 25-13. Jessie Manwaring gave the 'Dons their first lead of the set at 8-7 and another Manwaring kill would swing the momentum to IPFW, leading to an Oakland timeout. Hailie Ripley increased the lead to 15-10 and an attack error by Oakland pushed the IPFW lead to 18-10 just moments later. The 'Dons secured the fourth set by scoring the last five points over Oakland which forced a fifth set.

The fifth and deciding set went to the home team as IPFW was never able to take the lead after tying the game at 1-1. Oakland opened up a four point advantage at 10-6 which forced IPFW into calling a timeout. The match tightened up after a service ace from Tessa McGill which made the score 11-12. The turning point in the match came right after as the combo of Bray and Amanda Baker recorded a block that gave Oakland a 13-11 lead. The Golden Grizzlies won the match off a kill from Taylor Humm.

IPFW will stay in Michigan to face the Central Michigan Chippewas tomorrow in a match that begins at 7 p.m. The Chippewas are 6-4 overall, which includes a 3-1 home win over Oakland on Sept. 4.

~ Feel the Rumble ~