Wright State University
North Texas
Volleyball Claims Golden Grizzly Invitational Title with Five-Set Win over North Texas
9/6/2009 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Wright State volleyball team claimed its first tournament title since 2006 Sunday afternoon as the Raiders defeated North Texas to win the Golden Grizzly Invitational in Rochester, Michigan. WSU defeated the Mean Green 24-26, 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 15-13.
North Texas scored the final three points to take the first set, only to see WSU outhit North Texas .231-.082 over the next two sets to go 2-1 in the match. The Mean Green broke an 18-18 tie with four consecutive points to take control of the fourth set, but the Raiders claimed the match by rallying from an 11-7 deficit with four straight and then scored the final two points on kills from Lexi Leonhard and Becca Awaa.
Leonhard paced Wright State with a double-double of 16 kills and 19 digs while Awaa also posted a double-double of 14 kills and 16 digs. Jessica Woods a near double-double of nine kills and 10 digs and Tina Paunicka 31 assists to go with seven digs.
Sandifer was named the tournament Most Valuable Player as she collected 32 kills and hit .359 over the three matches to go along with nine total blocks. Joining Sandifer on the All-Tournament were Awaa, who had 28 kills, four service aces and 27 digs on the weekend, and Leonhard, who matched Sandifer's 32 kills while posting 27 digs.
The tournament crown is the first for Wright State since tying for the 2006 Raider Challenge title with Akron and Denver. It also marks the first time that WSU has won all three matches in a tournament since winning the IPFW Invitational in 2002, defeating IPFW, Marquette and Western Illinois.
The 5-1 start for the Raiders is the best since beginning the 2002 campaign at 7-1.
Wright State is back in action next weekend by opening the home portion of its schedule with the Raider Challenge at the C.J. McLin Gymnasium. The Raiders will face Evansville Friday at 7 pm, followed by St. Peter's Saturday at 10 am and Kent State later that day at 7 pm.
