The Wright State volleyball team closed out the 2019 regular season with a 3-1 victory at Oakland on Saturday afternoon, dropping the first set before winning the next three sets 25-23,25-13 and 25-14. The win improves the Raiders to 24-4 overall on the year and 13-3 in Horizon League action.

The Raiders win, coupled with Milwaukee's win over Green Bay, gave Wright State its first-ever Horizon League regular season championship.

On Saturday, the Raiders totaled 58 kills, 56 assists, 64 digs and 15 service aces as Celia Powers led the way with a double-double in kills and digs with 13 for each category. She led the Raiders in kills, only committing four errors, which made for a .281 hitting percentage. There were three Raiders who totaled 11 kills: Nyssa Baker, Teddie Sauer and Taylor Gibson. Megan Alders added eight kills and Lainey Stephenson contributed four kills. Stephenson's performance made for a double-double in assists and digs after leading the match with 46 assists and also led the Raiders with 16 digs. Jenna Story added five assists and 15 digs. Sauer had an excellent performance behind the service line totaling seven service aces.

FROM COACH MATTERS
"Tonight's match was another team effort. Everyone contributed in their respective positions, but this win was especially emotional and gritty. We were fighting for history and a chance to host the Horizon League Championship in a place that weare undefeated. We had a lot of family make the trip to Oakland and it almost felt like home - we are so thankful for them.I am so proud of this group of young women that have competed wise beyond their years. We are excited to play on our home court in front of Raider Nation!"
 
Set 1
Oakland won the first point and extended its lead to 7-3. Wright State answered with a run of six points to take the lead at 10-9. Oakland called its first timeout at 10-9 and came out of the timeout to tie the score at 10-10. Gibson answered with a kill for Wright State to take the lead by one point, 11-10. The Raiders were able to go on another run of five points to take lead at 15-10. The two teams battled back and forth as the score reached the red zone with Wright State leading by two points, 20-18. Oakland tied the score at 20-20 and then took the lead 21-20. The score tied again at 22-22, but Oakland went on to win the set 25-23.
 
Set 2
Powers gave the Raiders a 2-0 lead after back-to-back kills. With the score tied at 4-4, Wright State took the lead and reached 10 points leading Oakland by three points. Wright State extended its lead to five points as Powers knocked down a kill to reach 15 points, leading by five points. The Golden Grizzlies cut into the Raider lead with a four-point run until Gibson knocked a kill down to reach the red zone with a 20-16 lead. Oakland won a challenged call to shorten its deficit to two points at 20-18. Baker and Powers knocked down kills to give Wright State the lead at 23-22, but Oakland answered to tie the score. Alders powered down a kill for the Raiders to reach set point before Sauer finished it with a kill for Wright State to win 25-23.
 
Set 3
Oakland scored the first point of the set but Powers answered back with a kill to tie the score. Sauer knocked a kill down for the Raiders to reach five points and then served an ace which led to Oakland calling its first timeout. After the timeout, Sauer added another ace and a backrow kill to extend Wright State's lead to six points. The Raiders went on a nine-point run to extend their lead to 18-5 and Baker knocked a kill down for Wright State to reach the red zone, leading by 12 points. Oakland earned its 10th point but still trailed by 11 points to Wright State. Sauer knocked down a kill that gave the Raiders set point, and then she went back to serve an ace to finish the set as Wright State won 25-13.
 
Set 4
Alders knocked down a kill for the Raiders' first point, but Oakland answered back to tie the score as the teams traded points. Sauer knocked down a kill for the Raiders to reach 10 points, leading by three points. Wright State went on a six-point run to extend its advantage to 17-8. Oakland called its first timeout and then won the next point before Sauer knocked down a kill for Wright State to reach red zone leading 20-12. Hannah Colvin served an ace for the Raiders to reach set point and Oakland committed an attack error for Wright State to win the set 25-14.