SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Lawrence Tech University's women's volleyball team hosted U of M Dearborn at the Don Ridler Fieldhouse Saturday night to cap off the Blue Devils' homecoming weekend. The Blue Devils entered the match having won their last two matches, including a huge comeback victory on the road at Madonna University, bringing their season record to 7-5. U of M Dearborn entered the match-up with an 11-4 record and a 3-3 mark in conference play.
Looking to maintain their success in front of a home crowd, Lawrence Tech started the match quickly, jumping out to an early lead. They showcased their offensive dominance, taking the first set 25-12 and crushing the Wolverines' hopes early on. Leading the match 1-0 heading into the second set, the Blue Devils continued to assert their dominance on the attack. Although the Wolverines fought back after falling behind, they could not secure the win, as LTU took the second set 25-20, aiming to send the visitors home early.
As the match progressed into the third and potential final set, the Blue Devils, up 2-0, found themselves trailing late in the set, which appeared to be a potential victory for the Wolverines. However, the Blue Devils showed great resilience, battling back to make the score 24-22 in the Wolverines' favor. LTU would still need a strong defensive stance to have any hope of winning the match in three. The Blue Devils held strong and rallied late in the third set to defeat the Wolverines 26-24, capping off an incredible homecoming weekend for Lawrence Tech University.
Led by senior Riley O'Connell, who recorded 12 kills, and sophomore Dru Temple, who finished with 15 assists, the Blue Devils excelled offensively. On the defensive side, senior Juliana Bollini led with 15 digs, while junior Nicole Hughes topped the team in blocks with 8.
The Blue Devils will be back in action Wednesday night as they host another WHAC opponent, Cornerstone University, at the Don Ridler Fieldhouse. The first set is scheduled for 7 PM as the Blue Devils look to claim victory over the Golden Eagles.
