LIVONIA, Mich. – The 19th-ranked Madonna University volleyball team, playing the second game in as many days, did not look sharp early, but found a way to defeat the University of Michigan-Dearborn 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-12) at the MU Activities Center on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED: No. 19 Madonna (11-1, 3-0 WHAC) 3, UM-Dearborn (3-10, 0-4 WHAC) 1

• Set one

  • Madonna got off to a sluggish start and needed a four-point rally to take a 10-9 lead. Another three-point run, highlighted by a pair of Jodie Kelly kills, put the Crusaders in front 19-17, but the Wolverines scored three in response for the lead. The teams then traded points to tie at 21, 22 and 23, but the visitors from Ann Arbor scored the final three points, all on MU miscues, to take set one.

• Set Two

  • The Crusaders, who seemed to be woken up by the early loss, scored 11 of the first 16 points in set two with three coming via Lauren Korth kills and two more from Erica LaBaere. After UMD cut the advantage to five, 15-10, the Crusaders scored five straight and 7-of-8 points thanks in part to two more Korth kills and a Korth, LaBaere block. The Wolverines responded with four points, but a service error gave Korth the ball and she tallied an ace before Nyla Greer pounded home the set two win.

• Set Three

  • It was an inauspicious start for the Crusaders in the third game as the visitors scored eight of the opening 11 points. Madonna then outscored the Wolverines 15-4 to take an 18-12 lead. Suurmeyer had a pair of kills in the run and Kelly and Yogi Hang each had a service ace. The teams traded points the rest of the way as MU went up 2-1 with a 25-19 win.

• Set Four

  • The visitors again jumped out to an early lead, 4-3, but MU flexed their muscles and outscored the Wolverines 22-8 the rest of the way to win the match. Kelly, Olivia Sweeney and Lauren Powers each had an ace, Korth added four more kills and Greer had three to highlight the final game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• While Madonna hit .179 (50-25-140) the defense held UM-Dearborn to a -.055 (28-35-127) mark. The Crusaders tallied six aces, seven blocks and 51 digs to go with 45 assists while the Wolverines had eight, seven, 51 and 26, respectively.

• Korth earned player of the game honors as she led the team in kills (12), attack percentage (.417), assists (25) and digs (12). She also added three blocks and an ace.

• Greer, LaBaere and Suurmeyer each finished with 10 kills while Greer added four blocks.

• Jordan Dawson added 17 assists while Kelly and Alyssa Facione each posted 11 digs.

MILESTONES TO WATCH

• Head Coach Jerry Abraham (1,191) continues his pursuit of 1,200 career wins and needs just nine more.

• Korth sits in seventh on the all-time assist list with 3,626; 338 shy of Jennie Wind (1998-01) for sixth.

JERRY'S WORLD / CRUSADER VISION

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 19 when they welcome Lourdes to the MU Activities Center at 7 p.m.

• The game is a "White Out" so be sure to wear your white and support the Crusaders!

• Live coverage will be available via the Madonna Athletics Network at www.mucrusaders.com/live.

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