ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University women's volleyball team struggled early, but rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Concordia (Mich.) University - Ann Arbor 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-8) in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Friday evening.

Lawrence Tech (9-3, 3-0) dropped the opening two sets as they were not finding their rhythm hitting .047 and .093 with 15 combined errors. Concordia were hitting on all cylinders early as they fed off a large home crowd, hitting .130 and .196 respectively to take the early lead.

The Blue Devils turned things around in the third set after tying it at 17-17, LTU went on an 8-2 run to close the set and cut the deficit to 2-1. Varvara Gromakova (JR/Moscow, Russia) had three service attempts as she helped lead the Blue Devils to a 22-18 lead in the set. Kristi Doherty (JR/Davison, Mich.) and Zakia Hunt (JR/Livonia, Mich.) closed the set with a block of Delaney Bennett to seal the set 25-19.

Concordia (1-7, 0-3) continued to battle the Blue Devils in the fourth, taking a 5-3 lead before LTU tied the match at 5-5 on a kill by Alysha Vipushan (FR/Tecumseh, Ontario). Lawrence Tech and Concordia would trade points until the Cardinals took a 15-13 lead following a pair of Blue Devils errors. Lawrence Tech had to keep fighting the Concordia on the floor as they went back-and-forth with LTU taking the lead at 18-17 on a CUAA error. Concordia would respond with five of the next eight points to take a 22-21 lead. With their backs against the wall, Lawrence Tech turned to the veterans - Doherty, Gromakova, Snider and Lodge - to win their last four points to tie the match at 2-2 with a 25-23 lead.

In the final set, Lawrence Tech jumped all over the Cardinals, taking a 6-2 lead as Gromakova served four straight points as well as earning the kill on the opening point. The Cardinals battled to within four points at 10-6, however the Blue Devils won five of the last seven points to complete the comeback, 15-8.

Lawrence Tech is back on the court Saturday, September 15 when they host their annual alumni event at 5 p.m. at Don Ridler Field House. A tailgate event follows in the parking lot outside building 16 (right next to the field house parking lot).

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