LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna University volleyball team had flashes of dominance on Wednesday night, but the inconsistency led to a five-set loss, 3-2 (25-27, 25-18, 25-14, 13-25, 15-9), to 20th-ranked Lawrence Technological University inside the MU Activities Center.

The Crusaders drop to 22-10 on the season and 14-5 in WHAC play while the Blue Devils improve to 28-2 overall and 19-0 in league action.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• It was a see-saw first set with neither team leading by more than two points throughout the game. It was the Crusaders who looked like they would wrap up the back-and-forth affair as Tauri Hintz terminated a ball to make it 23-21, but two straight LTU points gave the visitors the first set point. A Janelle Kwasiborski kill tied the score and a Kawsiborski, Erica LaBaere block gave MU set point. After LTU tied the score, Kwasiborski again terminated a Jordyn Dawson set for set point and a Blue Devils error gave the Blue and Gold the 27-25 win. 
• The Blue Devils bounced back in set two and used a six-point and two four-point runs to eventually take the second game, 25-19. The Southfield program used several five-point runs in set three to pull away with a 25-14 win and a 2-1 match lead.
• With their backs against the wall, Joella Griner came up big for the Crusaders as she followed a LaBaere kill with 12 consecutive points thanks in part to LaBaere who tallied five more kills and two block assists in the run to help MU to a 17-4 advantage. The Blue Devils chipped away, but back-to-back kills from Jodie Kelly and Hintz sealed the 25-12 win and forced game five.
• It was a good start to the finale for the Crusaders as they jumped out to a 6-4 lead thanks to two kills each from Kelly and Kwasiborski. However, LTU scored 10 of the final 13 points for the 15-9 win.

MARK'S MUSINGS

• "We competed all night, took the regular season champs to five sets and improved from the first meeting. We talked about making runs the past week and we were able to do that a few times tonight to get in position to have a chance to win, but we have to finish. We need to find a way to finish off these close matches. As we continue to grow a match like tonight will help us down the road." - Assistant Coach Mark Grenier

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• .196-.157: For the second time this season the Crusaders lost while outhitting their opponent as MU hit .196 (58-26-163) to LTUs .157 (54-28-166). 
• .640: The Crusaders hit an impressive .640 (17-1-25) in set four while LTU hit .000 (8-8-31)
• .333: Kwasiborski and LaBaere paced MU with .333 hitting percentages and both tallied four block assists while the latter had 13 kills and the former added 10
• 5: Kelly (No. 5), led MU with 19 kills to go with three blocks and eight assists while DJ Sargent paced the defense at the net with five blocks and added five kills
• 21/48: Olivia Sweeney led the Crusaders with 21 digs while Dawson finished with 48 assists

UP NEXT

• The Blue and Gold wrap up the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 9 when they travel to Grand Rapids to face Aquinas College in a battle for the second-seed in the WHAC tournament which will begin next Wednesday. First serve is slated for 1 p.m.
• Live coverage links are available at www.mucrusaders.com. 

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