Trio of Hitters Help Green Bay Sweep League Opener

By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – A trio of hitters tallied double-digit kills on Friday night to help Green Bay (6-7, 1-0 HL) post a season-high hitting percentage and sweep visiting Wright State (6-12, 0-1 HL) 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-11) in the Horizon League opener for both teams at the Kress Events Center.

Hitting over .300 in each set, Green Bay's offense excelled with 46 kills and a .347 hitting percentage. It was the second-straight sweep for the Phoenix and the second time in as many matches head coach Michaela Franklin's team hit over .300. Sophomore Mikaela Gunderson (Casco, Wis.) had 10 kills on just 15 swings to lead the Phoenix with a career-high hitting percentage of .667.

Senior Leah Van Zeeland (Kaukana, Wis.) had six of her team-high 13 kills in the opening set as Green Bay rattled off five-straight points early and led the majority of a 25-22 Phoenix victory.

In set two, Wright State led 20-18 before Franklin called a timeout that got her squad's attention. On the strength of Van Zeeland's serve and three kills from senior Monica Anderson (Cottage Grove, Wis.), Green Bay scored the final seven points of the set to lead 2-0. Anderson finished the match with 11 kills.

Green Bay extended that run into set three with the opening five points. After the Raiders closed the deficit to 9-6, Emily Riese (Fond du Lac, Wis.) served during a 9-0 run that put Green Bay in front with a dominant 19-8 edge, and the Phoenix closed out the clean sweep 25-11.

Riese directed the Green Bay offense with 32 assists while sophomore libero Jillian Bauer (Verona, Wis.) tallied a match-best 16 digs.

Green Bay returns to action on Saturday afternoon, hosting Oakland at 4 p.m. for another Horizon League matchup.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Monica Anderson: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

#5 Leah Van Zeeland: RS; 6' 0"; Freshman

#3 Mikaela Gunderson: MB; 6' 0"; Freshman

#15 Jillian Bauer: LIB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#17 Emily Riese: S; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#4 Monica Anderson
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH

#5 Leah Van Zeeland
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: RS

#3 Mikaela Gunderson
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MB

#15 Jillian Bauer
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: LIB

#17 Emily Riese
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: S