SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The 20th-ranked Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University women's volleyball team earned the WHAC Regular Season Championship and top seed in the WHAC Tournament following a historic 20-0 season in conference play. It was the Blue Devils first ever undefeated conference record and just the 13th time in WHAC history that a team has finished the regular season conference slate undefeated.
The Blue Devils will host the eighth-seed Siena Heights University in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, November 13 at 7 p.m. inside the Don Ridler Field House. Tickets cost $7 for adults, $5 for non-LTU students and seniors (65+), LTU students get in free with their student ID. Season passes are not accepted.
Lawrence Tech swept the season series with the Saints, taking the first match 3-0 in Adrian, Mich. and sealing their 20-0 perfect WHAC season with a 3-1 win on senior night in Southfield, Mich. The Blue Devils have not lost on home court since Oct 19, 2018, going 13-0 in Don Ridler Field House over that time.
INSIDE THE BLUE DEVILS
The Blue Devils are led by the seniors as Zakia Hunt, Kristi Doherty, Varvara Gromakova, Mackenzie Fisher, Brittany Taber, and Alexis Snider all played a role this season. Hunt is the leader in kills per set at 3.37, total kills with 361, and points per set at 3.8. Doherty leads the team in assists per set (9.70), total assists (1,067), total aces (70), and aces per set (0.64). Gromakova is second on the team in aces (53), third in total kills (238), third in points per set (2.8). Fisher finished the regular season with 23 aces and 56 digs. Taber averages 1.45 kills per set while hitting .216 this season while Snider finished with 64 assists for a 2.91 assists per set average.
Nichole Hyduk played in all 31 matches, recording 383 digs and 19 aces. Alysha Vipushan and Renali Calisin also played in all 31 matches as defensive specialists. Vipushan recorded 215 digs while Calisin added 236 digs in 107 sets played. Jessica Lodge and Isabella McDonald play a huge roll on the outside as they combined for 519 kills. Lodge finished the season with 289 kills for a 2.63 per set average while finishing third in total aces with 44. McDonald recorded 230 kills for a 2.47 per set average.
Shelby Rasch joined the team as a transfer, making an immediate impact at the libero spot with a team high 475 digs as well as 26 aces. Freshman Madeline Hudson played in 30 matches and 100 sets, finishing with 131 kills and a .270 hitting percentage. Lillian Regnier played in eight matches – nine sets - as a freshman, with seven kills and averaging almost a one point per set. Peyton Heady and Marriya Henry played in 11 and 13 matches respectively as Henry recorded 16 kills and Heady added 17. Morgan Minjares and Kate Simplico each saw action in nine and five sets respectively.
NAIA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
Kristi Doherty Ranks Number 3 in Division I in Total Service Aces (70)
Kristi Doherty Ranks Number 8 in Division I in Service Aces per Game (0.640)
Zakia Hunt Ranks Number 14 in Division I in Hitting Percentage (0.346)
Kristi Doherty Ranks Number 22 in Division I in Assists per Game (10.000)
Varvara Gromakova Ranks Number 24 in Division I in Total Service Aces (53)
Kristi Doherty Ranks Number 26 in Division I in Total Assists (1100)
Varvara Gromakova Ranks Number 35 in Division I in Service Aces per Game (0.480)
NAIA TEAM RANKINGS
Ranks Number 5 in Division I in Digs per Game (20.090)
Ranks Number 8 in Division I in Kills per Game (13.790)
Ranks Number 13 in Division I in Service Aces per Game (2.220)
Ranks Number 13 in Division I in Total Service Aces (246)
Ranks Number 17 in Division I in Total Digs (2230)
Ranks Number 17 in Division I in Assists per Game (12.500)
Ranks Number 17 in Division I in Hitting Percentage (0.233)
Ranks Number 22 in Division I in Total Kills (1531)
Ranks Number 31 in Division I in Total Assists (1387)
