The Wright State volleyball team defeated Youngstown State 3-1 Wednesday (30-32, 25-16, 25-17, 25-22) at YSU.

First Set Highlights

Wright State scored the first point in the set off of an attack error by Youngstown, but Youngstown immediately answered back and took the early lead at 6-1 after a 6-0 run.  Wright State called their first timeout at 6-1 to regroup, and came out of the timeout going on a 5-2 run which allowed them to close within two points of the Penguins at 8-6.  Both teams battled back-and-forth throughout the middle of the set tying the game seven times and pushing the score to 15-15.  Wright State was able to pull ahead to 19-16 after a 4-1 run, but the Penguins battled back to tie the game once again at 20-20.  A service error by the Penguins, however, jump started another 4-1 run for the Raiders which put them up 24-21 for set point.  The Raiders were unable to score the final point, and the Penguins went on a 4-0 run to take the lead at 25-24.  Both teams continued to fight and ended up tying six more times, pushing the score to 30-30 before Youngstown State went on a 2-0 run to win the set at 32-30.  Freshman outside hitter Abby Barcus led the Raiders with five kills while seniors Megan Hopkins and Katie Klusman each posted four kills.

Second Set Highlights

Wright State and Youngstown State kept the score close in the beginning of the set, tying the score at 4-4 after an attack error by the Penguins.  The Raiders took the lead after the 4-4 tie for the remainder of the game and went on multiple runs to extend their lead to 15-10.  Youngstown State took their first timeout with Wright State in the lead at 17-11 after the Raiders went on another 2-0 run.  Coming out of the timeout, the Penguins were able to record a kill, but the Raiders sided out immediately with a kill from Barcus.  Wright State only allowed Youngstown State to get within six points for the remainder of the set, and the Raiders won comfortably at 25-16.  Barcus and freshman  middle hitter Teddie Sauer led the Raiders with four kills each in the set.

Third Set Highlights

Wright State took a big lead early in the set at 7-0 with four of the seven points being kills for the Raiders.  The Penguins stayed in the game however and went on a couple of 3-0 runs which allowed them to pull within three points of the Raiders at 10-7.  Hopkins was able to side out for the Raiders, but the Penguins went on a 4-0 run and tied the game at 11-11.  Youngstown State kept the score close for a couple of rallies, tying the game at 12-12 and 13-13 before Wright State went on a 8-2 run taking the lead at 21-15.  The Penguins were able to record to more kills, but the Raiders dominated the rest of the set and won the third set 25-17.  Freshman Celia Powers led the Raiders with four kills while Barcus followed close behind posting three kills in the third set.

Fourth Set Highlights

Youngstown State took the early lead at 2-0, but Wright State came back and tied the score at 3-3 after putting up a solid block against the Penguins.  Both teams battled back-and-forth tying the game two more times at 4-4 and 5-5 before the Penguins went on a 5-1 run taking the lead at 10-6.  Sauer sided out for the Raiders with a kill at 10-7 and jump started a 5-0 run which allowed the Raiders to regain the lead at 11-10.  Both teams continued to trade points back-and-forth keeping the score close throughout the middle of the set.  The teams tied the game at 12-12 and 13-13 before the Raiders went on a 2-0 run to take the lead at 15-13.  Wright State extended their lead to 21-18 by recording four consecutive kills, and capitalizing on errors made by Youngstown State.  The Penguins stayed in the game until the end, hoping to force a fifth set, but the Raiders were able to hold onto their three point lead and won the final set 25-22.  Klusman and Hopkins led the Raiders with four kills each.

What Coach Clements is Saying

"We picked up a good road win tonight against a competitive Youngstown team.  We were able to settle into our offense and get our middle involved.  I thought that was a big difference for us tonight."

Next Up

Wright State continues conference play on the road this weekend taking on Milwaukee on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 5 p.m.