David Archambeau/For the Gazette Michigan Tech setter Tess Hayes (10) and middle blocker Paige Wagner (4) extend their arms to attempt a block during a match against Davenport Saturday at the SDC Gym in Houghton.

By DAVER KARNOSKY

dkarnosky@mininggazette.com

HOUGHTON — Looking for a bounce-back performance on Saturday at the SDC Gym, the Michigan Tech Huskies volleyball team got just what the doctor ordered, a 3-0 sweep of the visiting Davenport Panthers, 26-24, 25-23, and 25-20. The Huskies improved to 6-5 overall and 2-2 in GLIAC play after dropping a three-set match to the No. 7 Ferris State Bulldogs on Friday.

“We wanted to come out of the weekend with something,” said Huskies coach Matt Jennings. “A split against Davenport and Ferris, there’s no shame in that. I thought parts of our game again ((Friday) night were good enough to win, and I thought (Saturday) most parts of our game clearly were good enough to win. I thought we did some good things, and I think we beat a team that could certainly put it on you here.

“We fought off some things, but we got out of the weekend 1-1, and look forward to next weekend here at home again.”

It was, by no means, easy.

Junior outside hitter Meg Raabe racked up 11 kills to lead the Huskies, but it was the play of the middle blockers, fifth-year Kaycee Meiners, sophomore Rachel Zurek, and freshman Paige Wagner, that set the tone for the Huskies from the opening serve.

“We’re pretty standard in that mix,” Jennings said. “I think that we really got them going.”

Jennings went on to talk about how all three contribute to the Huskies’ success. Meiners had seven kills and three block assists. Zurek had nine kills and one block assist, and Wagner had six kills and one block assist.

“Kaycee is one of the most consistent volleyball players I’ve ever coached,” he said. “The beautiful thing about Kaycee is that you know what you’re going to get day in, day out.

After last night’s match, (I) ran into Rachel on her way out, and she’s just positive, like, (she) was eager to get to today. They (Ferris State) had her number a little bit yesterday. She went off. She had a good match.

“Paige Wagner is really hard to stop, and she’s doing all the little things. Her serve looks good, blocking for us. You watch her come cut around the block at the net, it’s good stuff. So, we’re really lucky there.”

The first set was a battle from start to finish. The Huskies trailed early, then evened things 10 times before taking control late on a kill from Meiners. Raabe then finished it over two points later to put the Huskies up 1-0.

In the second set, the Huskies jumped out quickly thanks to kills by Raabe and Meiners, but the Panthers fought back over and over again, keeping the Huskies within striking distance until they evened things at 22-22. However, again Raabe came up with a huge kill following a timeout, which gave the Huskies the momentum they needed to close out the set.

In the third set, the Huskies broke things open after a Zurek kill put them up 9-3. From there, they held the lead until the Panthers closed it to 15-15. From there, the Huskies regained control, thanks to some key serving from sophomore outside hitter Jacqueline Yancy, and that put them in the driver’s seat for the final points. Yancy finished her afternoon with seven kills, three aces, and 17 digs.

“Jackie seems to be feeling pretty good right now,” Jennings said. “Jackie’s a really good, volleyball player, and a really good competitor. She wants to compete, and she’s learning her game face on this court, and her role. As she gets more comfortable with it, the sky’s the limit.”

Huskies drop Friday match

to Ferris State

The Huskies fell 3-0 to the Bulldogs on Friday. The Bulldogs won 25-19, 25-22, and 25-21 to improve to 10-0 on the season.

“I’m disappointed that we lost, but I don’t think we played horribly,” Jennings said. “That’s a really good team. They’re undefeated and Top-10 ranked for a reason and have a ton of experience.”

The Bulldogs never trailed in the first set and hit .464. Wagner put down five kills for the Huskies on only seven attacks, but Olivia Henneman-Dallape was dominant on the other side of the net with seven kills.

Junior setter Avery Brown and sophomore defensive specialist Brynn Erickson both had serving runs to give the Huskies a lead in the second.

The Bulldogs answered with a 4-0 run to take an 18-16 lead. Olivia Henneman-Dallape found her groove again in the second with seven kills, including three of the final four points for the Bulldogs, heading into the break. Yancy had four kills for Tech in the second.

There were 11 ties and eight lead changes in the third. Ferris closed the match on a 7-1 run to take the straight set win.

Yancy led the Huskies with 12 kills, while Wagner also got into double figures on 10 kills while hitting .421. Raabe added six kills, and Meiners hit .556 with five kills. Sophomore setter Tess Hayes set the attack with 29 assists, and junior outside hitter Brooke Dzwik led the defense with 12 digs.

UP NEXT

The Huskies remain home next weekend as they host Lake Superior State on Friday before battling Saginaw Valley State on Saturday.