Michigan Tech setter Tess Hayes (10) and middle blocker Kaycee Meiners (7) attempt to block a hit from Winona State’s Sidney Paulson (21) during a match Thursday at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — In the fifth set, the Michigan Tech Huskies volleyball team held a 12-9, needing just three more points to earn a season-opening victory over the visiting Winona State Warriors. They even had the serve.

When the smoke cleared, the Huskies dropped a five-set decision to the Warriors, 25-16, 17-25, 25-22, 19-25, 13-15, at the SDC Gym.

Senior defensive specialist Kate Walch was serving. Senior outside hitter Lindy Oujiri had just put the Huskies so agonizingly close to the match victory.

A kill by Gianna Vollrath and an ace by Rylee Vaughn later, the set was suddenly squarely where the Warriors wanted it. Two kills later from Sidney Paulson, who led all players in the match with 24 kills, and the Warriors were storming the floor to celebrate their win.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Huskies to open the season, because they won the first set handily. To make matters worse, sophomore outside hitter Makena Wesol stumbled attempting a kill late in the fifth set, which caused her to hit the floor with an injury and the Warriors the opening they needed to put the match on the line with the next serve.

“In terms of the quality of the match, it was actually the start I was looking for, we just were on the wrong end of the win and loss there,” said Huskies coach Matt Jennings. “One of those teams had to lose. Unfortunately, it happened tight in the fifth set. (We had) some weird plays, some unforced errors on our end. We found ourselves in a position that we didn’t want to be.”

Jennings admits that Wesol’s injury rattled the Huskies.

“I have nothing but nice things and positivity towards our players right now,” he said. “They played out of their minds, and they played with a ton of heart, played with each other.

“That was not an easy way to finish there. People were a little shook up, and I’m just very proud of my team.”

While defensively, the Huskies could not find an answer for Paulson throughout the match, multiple Huskies chipped in offensively in an attempt to offset what she was doing for the Warriors.

One of the standout players for the Huskies throughout the night was junior middle blocker Kaycee Meiners. Meiners finished her night with 12 kills and hit .455 for the match, which led all Huskies who had more than 13 attacks.

She also proved to be a very good leader on the court for two freshmen middles in Rachel Zurek and Tricia Kennedy. Zurek finished with seven kills and two blocks while Kennedy added two kills.

“Kaycee’s an amazing volleyball player,” said Jennigns. “She had a great match tonight. Our middles were phenomenal. (All) of them really did their jobs.”

Oujiri also was good around the net after the second set. She started hot with five kills in the first set, but was held off the board throughout the second set. When the Huskies needed her in the third set, she stormed back with some big swings, finishing her night with 15 kills, tied for the team-high.

“In some clutch moments, Lindy was good,” Jennings said. “She took some shots there in the third that were big-time for us, tight at 17, 18, something like that. A couple of big swings, a couple of big blocks, blocked touches, that gave our defense some opportunities.

Lindy is a good player, great leader, wonderful human being, and I’m looking forward to her season.”

Sophomore right side hitter Meg Raabe, who has been battling an early season injury, found ways to be an effective player despite not being able to play as much of the match as she wanted to. In the third set, she came up with a key dig that extended a rally defensively and gave the Huskies a chance to score, which they appeared to do. After a referees’ discussion, however, the point was overturned.

Rather than dwell on the negative of losing a point there, the Huskies bounced back, fueled by Raabe’s effort, and found a way to win the set.

“For us to come out and finish strong after a controversial call was a sign of some of the toughness we have on this team,” said Jennings.

While there was much that Jennings liked about his team’s efforts, he admits that they struggled at times in the back row, which led to points for the Warriors.

“We gave up a bunch of points in the back court,” he said. “The three sets we dropped, that was the difference.”

UP NEXT

Things did not get easier for the Huskies on Friday as they faced Concordia-St. Paul to open the NMU Tournament in Marquette. On Saturday, the Huskies will face Minnesota-Crookston at 11:30 a.m. and then Hillsdale at 4:30 p.m.