GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The (RV) Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University women's volleyball team dropped their first conference match at Aquinas tonight, falling 3-2 (25-23, 25-27, 23-25, 25-16, 15-12) in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Lawrence Tech (10-4, 4-1) fell behind 1-0 after losing the opening set, but roared back wins in set two and three to take the 2-1 lead. The second set went back and forth as were tied 13 times, with the Blue Devils able to erase a 23-20 deficit, taking a 25-24 lead on a kill from Zakia Hunt. The Saints tied it one last time, but it was Isabella McDonald and Jess Lodge with a pair of kills to seal the set win, 27-25.

Aquinas (13-4, 4-1) held the lead early in set three, but Lawrence Tech responded with a small to run to take a 9-6 lead off an Aquinas service error. LTU went up 13-10, but the Saints responded 6-1 run to take a 16-14 lead. Lodge served the Blue Devils back into the lead, earning five straight points including one ace to give LTU a 20-16 lead. Lawrence Tech took a 24-21 lead before Aquinas made it a one point game at 24-23. The Blue Devils closed it out forcing an Aquinas error to give LTU the set, 25-23.

The Saints breezed through set four 25-16 to force a fifth set. Lawrence Tech went up 4-1 early in the set, but Aquinas fought back to tie the set at 5-5. The Saints went up 10-8, but LTU battled to make it 11-10. Aquinas closed the set out on a 5-1 run to take the set and the match 3-2.

Varvara Gromakova hit .400 percent with 16 kills with just two errors. McDonald and Lodge each finished with 11 kills while Kristi Doherty recorded 45 assists, two aces, and 18 digs. Hunt and Dacey Cook added seven kills apiece.Nichole Hyduk finished with 12 digs and an ace.

Lawrence Tech is back on the court Saturday, September 22 at Cornerstone (Mich.) University starting at 1 p.m.

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