TIFFIN, Ohio - The Dragons trailed late in each set, including 24-23 deficits in the first two frames, but Tiffin (9-6, 6-4 GLIAC) kept its composure and defeated Michigan Tech (3-13, 2-9 GLIAC) in straight sets 30-28, 27-25, 25-22 Saturday afternoon at the Gillmor Center.
Tiffin outhit Michigan Tech .266-.195 for the match. Danielle McQuade, Brooke Bernabei and Brittany Teaford contributed 16, 13 and 11 kills, respectively, while Lindsay Heller had a game-high 21 digs. Jessica Adams added 36 assists and three kills on five attempts and no errors for a .600 hitting percentage.
Only playing the final set, Maureen Kurtz led the Dragons in hitting with three kills and no errors on four attempts (.750).
Madeline Haben led the visitors with a double-double of 28 assists and 19 digs. Kristine Sexton had 14 kills while Alex Schwalbe contributed 12 spikes.
Both teams stood at 17-17 in set one before a McQuade kill and a pair of Sexton attack errors put the Dragons ahead 20-17. Michigan Tech battled and was actually on set point at 24-23, but a Teaford kill tied the match. A McQuade kill put TU up 25-24, but the two teams traded side outs until the score was 28 all. Bernabei recorded a kill to put Tiffin up and a service ace by Jordan Jenkins ended the first set with Tiffin winning 30-28.
The second set stood at 16-16 before four straight points gave Tiffin a 20-16 lead thanks to kills by Bernabei, Teaford and Giavanna DiPietro along with an attack error by the Huskies' Jena Karkos. However, two Tiffin errors, an ace, and a pair of kills gave Michigan Tech a 21-20 lead.
Tech had a pair of set points at 24-23 and 25-24 in the frame, but Tiffin held. A Teaford kill repelled the first set point while a McQuade spike tied the score at 25. An attack error by the visitors and a McQuade kill on set point gave Tiffin the 27-25 win.
In the third set, Michigan Tech came out on fire and took a 6-1 lead. However, Tiffin kept chipping away at the deficit and tied the match at 13. Michigan Tech fought back to take a 22-20 lead, but Tiffin won the final five points to prevent the third set from going to extra points. Down two with the Huskies' Abby DeWitt serving, a kill by Bernabei gave the Dragons the serve down one. A block by Teaford and Bernabei tied the match. From there, a DiPietro and Bernabei kill with a ball-handling error by the Huskies' Karkos ended the match.
For the final two sets, Tiffin was 2-for-2 when it was serving for the set win and 3-for-7 for the match. Michigan Tech went 0-for-3 on set point.
Tiffin returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Cedarville. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
