Wright State University
7-2
Kent State
4-7
Volleyball Falls in Five to Kent State for Raider Challenge title
9/12/2009 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Wright State volleyball team led 2-1 against Kent State in the championship match of the Raider Challenge Saturday night in the C.J. McLin Gymnasium, but the Golden Flashes rallied from there to claim the title in five sets, winning 25-18, 20-25, 17-25, 26-24, 15-5.
The Raiders trailed just 13-12 in the opening set before the Golden Flashes scored four straight to take control. In the second set, Wright State broke away from a 19-18 edge with four consecutive points of its own, including back-to-back blocks from Jessica Woods and Shaunda Sandifer.
The third set saw WSU jump out to a 4-1 advantage as the Raiders outhit the Flashes .359-.179, only to see Kent State force a decisive fifth set as KSU outhit Wright State .310-.152.
In the final set, it was all Kent State as the Flashes broke out to a 7-2 lead and closed out the match by scoring the final six points.
For the match, KSU outhit Wright State .253-.188 and had 15 blocks compared to seven for the Raiders.
Becca Awaa paced the Raiders with a double-double of 17 kills and 12 digs while Sandifer, who was selected to the All-Tournament Team, added 16 kills. Woods, another All-Tournament honoree, posted a double-double of 13 kills and 17 digs as did Lexi Leonhard with 12 kills and 14 digs. Michelle Hammond added 57 assists and Stefanie Shiramizu 19 digs.
All-Tournament selection Arjola Prenga led the way for Kent State (4-7) with a double-double of 22 kills and 17 digs while tournament MVP Liva Brivule added a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs. Meredith Paskert, the third Golden Flash to be selected to the All-Tournament Team, had 10 kills.
Wright State (7-2) begins Horizon League play on Tuesday, September 15, at Cleveland State starting at 7:00.
2009 Raider Challenge
Friday's Results
Kent State def. Saint Peter's 25-18, 25-18, 25-21
Wright State def. Evansville 25-15, 25-20, 25-19
Saturday's Results
Wright State def. Saint Peter's 25-21, 25-16, 25-12
Kent State def. Evansville 20-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-15, 15-9
Evansville def. Saint Peter's 25-15, 25-17, 25-14
Kent State def. Wright State 25-18, 20-25, 17-25, 26-24, 15-5
Final Standings
Kent State 3-0
Wright State 2-1
Evansville 1-2
Saint Peter's 0-3
All-Tournament Team
Liva Brivule, Kent State (MVP)
Arjola Prenga, Kent State
Meredith Paskert, Kent State
Shaunda Sandifer, Wright State
Jessica Woods, Wright State
Kaisi Nixon, Evansville
