The Tiffin University volleyball team (5-3) split another pair of four-set matches in Michigan today against Glenville State and Missouri Western State. Today's two matches took place on the campus of Davenport University as the Dragons competed on day two of the 2024 Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic.
In match one, the Dragons defeated the Pioneers 25-13, 25-16, 18-25, 25-16. TU took advantage of poor attack percentages from Glenville State to easily win the first two sets. The Pioneers then flipped the script in the third set to avoid being swept as the Dragons recorded a negative hitting percentage.
A kill by Josie Reinhart and service ace from Maggie Pavlansky gave the Dragons an early 6-4 lead in the fourth set but the Pioneers responded to tie it at six. TU regained the lead shortly after on a block by Katelyn Owens and Kenedi Goon. The Pioneers took the lead back 15-14 and went on a run following back-to-back kills by Goon. The Dragons would go on to win 11 of the final 12 points to earn the win. Olivia Karhoff had the match-winning kill.
Taylor Peterson led the way with 13 kills and Clare Kwiatkowski led the way in assists with 25.
In match two, the Dragons fell to Missouri Western State 25-27, 25-21, 13-25, 18-25. Set one was tight from the opening serve with the Dragons holding a slight advantage for most of the set. Trailing 21-20, the Dragons got a kill by Karhoff and a block by Kaylee Freund and Goon to take a 22-21 lead. A kill by Goon and attack error from the Griffin set up set point for the Dragons, but TU could not take advantage. The Griffon won the final three points and won the set after an attack error from Diana Heitkamp and kill by Emma Salker.
The Dragons scored three straight in set two for a 7-6 lead and never relinquished that lead as they evened the match at one set apiece. The Dragons won eight of the final 13 points in the set that ended on a kill by Owens.
The Dragons got off to a slow start in set three and trailed 6-0 and couldn't overcome it as the Griffon extended the lead to 20-6 before taking the set by a score of 25-13. In set four, TU was unable to force a deciding fifth set despite winning seven of the first 10 points. The Dragons led 9-5 but found themselves trailing after MWSU won 10 of the next 12 points. Later on in the set, MWSU won five straight to take a 20-12 lead before closing out the set for the match.
Heitkamp had a team-high 23 digs and Freund recorded a team-high eight blocks. Addison Conti and Pavlansky both recorded double digit assists with Conti leading the way with 22. The only statistical category the Dragons had an advantage in was blocks (13 to 9).
The Dragons open G-MAC play on the road Tuesday, Sept. 17 with a trip to Lake Erie at 7 p.m.
