KALAMAZOO, MI – The Wright State volleyball team made quick work of North Dakota Friday morning to open the Western Michigan Invitational, the first of two Raider contests on Friday as they get set to face host Western Michigan at 6 p.m. Friday night.

Friday, September 2 - at Western Michigan - 6 p.m. - Watch - Live Stats
 
Wright State (3-0) was in control all morning, taking the opening set 25-17 before a 25-22 second set and a 25-14 final set score. The Raiders hit .323 as a group in the first set and jumped up to a .429 hitting percentage in the third set to close the match out, while North Dakota's best hitting percentage was only .135 (third set) and Wright State's defense forced North Dakota to a .040 hitting percentage for the match.
 
Taylor Bransfield led the Raiders with nine hills, while Aaliyah Byers recorded eight kills of her own and Megan Alders added six. Byers tacked on five of Wright State's eight blocks, while Sam Ott had three of the team's seven service aces. Lainey Stephenson passed out 31 of the 36 assists, while Jenna Story collected 5 digs to lead the Raider defense.
 
 
SET ONE
Wright State tallied the first six points of the morning and never looked back, running the margin up to 11-2 behind three Bransfield kills and Ott's three consecutive service aces. North Dakota fought back to make the set interesting, pulling to 18-15, but the Raiders scored seven of the last nine points to take the set 25-17.
 
SET TWO
Back-and-forth early, the Raiders gained some cushion with a five-point run behind two Callie Martin kills to push out to an 11-5 advantage. After Wright State extended the lead to 18-9, North Dakota tallied six of the next eight points to pull within five and later used a 3-0 run to climb to 23-19. Another three-point spurt by North Dakota made it a two-point match but the Raiders took the set thinks to an attacking error to end the comeback attempt.
 
SET THREE
Each side traded points to 5-all before the Raiders rolled off four straight points behind a Jenny Morey service ace and a Martin kill. Back-and-forth through the midway point of the set, Wright State led 14-12 before a 6-0 run thanks to kills from Byers and Ott and North Dakota miscues to bring the match to its tipping point. The Raiders closed the morning with five of the final six points, including the last two points thanks to a pair of North Dakota attack errors.