Box Score SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The 18th-ranked Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University women's volleyball team fell to Corban (Ore.) University 3-1 (19-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-23) in the opening game of the 2019 NAIA National Championship Pool Play in Sioux City, Iowa.
Lawrence Tech (32-3) dropped the opening set 25-19 as the Blue Devils hit .095 on 11 kills and seven errors. The Warriors opened the set on a 7-2 run as the Blue Devils cut it to 7-5 on a kill from Isabella McDonald. Corban extended the lead to 11-6, but Lawrence Tech was able to bring it back to within three at 11-8. However, the Warriors were able to seal the set with an 11-5 run to take the 1-0 lead.
In the second set, the Blue Devils hit even worse as they had 12 kills and eight errors for a .068 hitting percentage. Corban hit .167 with five errors, but was able to take the set 25-21. Lawrence Tech jumped out to the 9-4 lead as Kristi Doherty served them into the lead. The Warriors went on an 11-5 run to take the lead at 15-14, but Mackenzie Fisher served the Blue Devils to a 16-16 tie. However, it was Corban that would take the final run, going up 24-19 to seal a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Blue Devils trailed Corban 8-3 in the third set, but a 9-4 run by Lawrence Tech tied the set at 12-12 with Shelby Rasch serving the Blue Devils into the tie. Zakia Hunt had a block and a kill to give Lawrence Tech a 15-13 lead, but the Warriors did not wilt, coming back to tie it at 17-17 and take the lead on the next point, 18-17. Lawrence Tech used an 8-3 run to close the set and cut the lead to 2-1 with a 25-20 win.
Lawrence Tech jumped out to a 9-3 lead in set four and extended it to 17-11, but Corban battled back to tie it at 20-20. Jessica Lodge made it 21-20 with a dominate kill as Rasch served for the Blue Devils. The Warriors tied it back at 21-21 and took the lead at 22-21, but Lawrence Tech took advantage of an error by Corban to tie it back at 22-22. Gromakova served the next point, but Corban won on an error and a kill to take a 24-22 lead. The Warriors sealed the comeback in set four with an error to end the set and take the match 3-1.
The Blue Devils were led by Hunt and Gromakova with 12 kills each, but 29 errors by the team made it difficult to get back into the match. Doherty led the way in assists with 44 and added 19 digs and an ace. McDonald finished with 10 kills while Rasch led the team in digs with 22.
Lawrence Tech is back on the court Wednesday, December 4 when they face No. 2-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) in match two of pool play. First serve is set for 7 p.m. EST.
