The Wright State volleyball team fell 3-0 against Harvard (23-25, 21-25, 23-25) in their first match of the Wright State Holiday Inn Invitational.

First Set Highlights

Harvard opened the match with a 5-0 run but after a Wright State timeout, the Raiders shifted the momentum in their favor by going on a 5-1 run to bring them back into the game within one point at 6-5.  The first and only tie of the set came at 15-15 after a kill from senior outside hitter Katie Klusman.  The back-and-forth streak continued with Harvard going on another 5-0 run to bring the score to 20-15 after a couple of kills by junior middle blocker Jocelyn Meyer, and three attack errors by the Raiders.  The Raiders stayed in the game with the help of newcomers Teddie Sauer and Celia Powers at the net who brought Wright State within one point at 23-22.   Harvard's Christina Cornelius slammed one down from the middle to put Harvard within one from winning the set, but Wright State's Abby Barcus responded with a kill on the right side making the score 24-23 before rotating to the back row.  Harvard was able to get the final kill before the Raiders could to tie the score and ended the match 25-23.  Powers led the Raiders with a .800 hitting percentage with four kills on five attempts and zero errors, while Harvard's Cornelius led her team with five kills for a .375 hitting percentage.  Senior libero Jessie Thornton clinched the Wright State volleyball career digs record of 1,693 right away in the first set after tallying seven digs for the Raiders.

Second Set Highlights

Wright State and Harvard battled back and forth, trading points in the beginning of the set but Harvard never gave up their lead throughout, only allowing Wright State to tie the score a few times early on.  Wright State always kept Harvard within four points throughout the set and decided to call their first timeout at 17-14 to try to shift the momentum.  Wright State and Harvard came out of the timeout each scoring three points before WSU took their second timeout.  Harvard came out of the timeout scoring right away with a service ace, but two kills from Barcus and an attack error by Harvard brought the Raiders within two points at 22-20.  Wright State fought until the end of the set, but Harvard pulled ahead at the end, winning the second set 25-21. Both teams posted 17 kills.  The Raiders were led in kills by Barcus who had six kills for a .545 hitting percentage.  Sauer was close behind Barcus with five kills in the set for a .571 hitting percentage.

Third Set Highlights

Wright State and Harvard continued their battle back-and-forth in the third set with Wright State calling their first timeout after Harvard brought the score to 5-2 following a kill by Maclaine Fields.  The Raiders came out of the timeout shifting the momentum in their favor with a couple of kills from Barcus and an ace from senior setter Maddie Lohmeier to tie the game at 5-5.  The Raiders took the lead and were the first team to hit ten points with a huge kill on the outside from who then rotated to the back row and immediately scored again with a service ace against Harvard's leading hitter Cornelius, to bring the Raiders lead to 11-9.  Harvard quickly retook the lead with a 4-0 run to take them up 13-11.  The Raiders pushed back in an attempt to regain the lead and tied the game at 15-15, and once again at 16-16 after a kill from Klusman.  After another tie at 18-18 from a service ace from Wright State's Rachel Kremer, Harvard responded by pulling ahead to 21-18.  Wright State fought back within one to 23-22 but Harvard ended the match with a pair of kills.  Barcus led the Raiders with 13 kills while Sauer tallied 11 kills for a .333 hitting percentage.  Thornton led both teams in digs with 17.

What Coach Clements is Saying

"It was certainly a match of margins, and a few compounding errors hurt us.  Harvard ran a very balanced offense and it kept our block completely out of sorts.  We needed to be able to defend the net better.  We are going to look to bounce back tonight against Tennessee Tech."

Next Up

The Raiders will play again in the Holiday Inn Invitational tonight at 8 p.m. against Tennessee Tech.

TICKETS

Season Tickets
All season tickets: $30
Raider Pass (allows you in to ALL Olympic Sport events): $100
Volleyball season tickets & Raider Passes are available to purchase by calling Wright State Athletics Ticket Office: 937-775-4934or raidertix@wright.edu

Single Game Tickets
Adult: $5
Youth (3-17): $3
Group (20 ): $3

Group Experiences
National Anthem with team OR high-five tunnel (20 ticket minimum)
Halftime scrimmage (30 ticket minimum)
Post-game autograph session (50 ticket minimum)
*Groups must sell the ticket minimum to do one or all of the group experiences (i.e. 20 tickets purchased allows you to either stand with the team during the National Anthem OR do a high-five tunnel, 30 tickets allows you to do that AND scrimmage on the court during halftime).
In order to book a group, please contact the Wright State Athletics Ticket Office: 937-775-4934 or raidertix@wright.edu

Student Tickets
Students receive free admission with their WrightOne card at the door. All student guests must purchase a ticket.

Game Day Information
Gates open 60 minutes prior to the start of the game. Tickets can be purchased at the door, group tickets can be purchased in advance through the Wright State Athletics Ticket Office: 937-775-4934 or raidertix@wright.edu