LIVONIA, Mich. – The night started has the last three matches had, with the Madonna University volleyball team in an 0-2 hole. However, this time was different. The Crusaders moved to a 5-1 and turned the match, and possible the season, around as they won the final three games to down Lawrence Technological University 3-2 (20-25, 15-25, 25-15, 25-20, 15-5).

A pair of seniors and a true sophomore led the charge as the Crusaders snapped a three-game losing stream and improved to 12-4 overall and 4-3 in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play while the Blue Devils slide to 10-6 on the year and 4-3 in league play.

HOW IT HAPPENED: No. 23 Madonna (12-4, 4-3 WHAC) 3, #RV Lawrence Tech (10-6, 4-3 WHAC) 2

• Set one

  • It was another slow start for the Crusaders as the Southfield program raced out to a 9-5 lead before the Crusaders reeled them back in at 11-10. MU kept it a one-point set until a three-point Blue Devil run put the visitors in front 19-15 and they won six of the next 11 points for the 25-20 win.

• Set Two

  • Lawrence Tech came out fast again in the second game as the Crusaders looked lost and found themselves in an 8-3 deficit. The Blue and Gold cut the hole to three, but could not find an offensive rhythm as the Blue Devils took game two, 25-15.

• Set Three

  • After some alignment changes, a 5-1 offense with Taylor Suurmeyer in the middle, the Crusaders seemed to take off. Suurmeyer opened the set with a kill and, after MU fell behind 3-2, the Crusaders rattled off six straight points behind the service prowess of Olivia Sweeney, who netted a pair of aces, and the Lauren Korth, Suurmeyer connection as Korth tallied a pair of kills with an assist from Suurmeyer. MU scored eight of the next 11 points as Jodie Kelly tallied four kills and Nyla Greer added a kill and a block for a 16-6 lead. LTU cut the advantage to six, but Madonna scored six of the final eight points to stay alive.

• Set Four

  • Suurmeyer continued to shine in the middle as she added two more kills to get MU off and running in the fourth game. After the teams traded several sideouts, the Crusaders scored 5-of-7 points to go up 18-13. As the visitors closed in, Suurmeyer delivered a pair of kills to help seal the 25-20 win.

• Set Five

  • With all the momentum on their side, the Crusaders cruised in the final set. Suurmeyer had the first four kills of the game for MU as the Crusaders raced out to a 10-2 lead. A pair of Kelly kills put MU on the brink at 14-5 and an LTU attack error sealed the epic win for the Blue and Gold.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Kelly finished the night with a match-high 20 kills and hit .224 with 16 digs and two blocks.

• Suurmeyer tallied 17 kills and tallied three solo blocks and an assist while Korth tallied a season-high 47 assists and added six kills and nine digs.

• Alyssa Facione (21) and Sweeney (20) shined on the back row as they combined for 42 digs.

• Madonna outhit LTU .185 (57-22-189) to .136 (57-31-191) and had more aces (7-6) and blocks (8-7).

MILESTONES TO WATCH

• Head Coach Jerry Abraham (1,192) continues his pursuit of 1,200 career wins and needs eight more.

• Korth sits in seventh on the all-time assist list with 3,770; 194 shy of Jennie Wind (1998-01) for sixth.

CRUSADER VISION

• Postgame interview with J. Kelly, Korth and Suurmeyer: https://youtu.be/-6kxTobi3nQ

UP NEXT

• Madonna continues homecoming week with a match against Concordia University - Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. For a complete list of homecoming activities visit madonna.edu/homecoming.

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

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