By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Despite having a depleted roster missing two starters and playing against league-leading Oakland (12-9, 4-2 HL), the Green Bay volleyball team returned home in winning fashion on Friday night at the Kress Center, defeating the visiting Golden Grizzlies 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-10, 25-23).

Junior Taylor Kasal (Westmont, Ill.) and freshman Beth Kuske (Germantown, Wis.) each tallied 16 kills to lead the Phoenix (3-14, 1-5 HL), with Kasal adding 10 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.

Kasal carried the offense through the opening two sets, including totaling six alone as the Phoenix won the opening set 25-22. The junior had 10 kills as the two teams went to intermission tied at 1-1 after Oakland took the second set, 25-22.

Kuske was the dominant force in sets three and four, tallying nine kills in the sets on just 21 swings without committing an error. In set three, Kuske had four kills as Green Bay hit an astounding .414 as a team (13 kills, 1 error) en route to a dominant 25-10 victory.

The freshman had five kills in the final set, including putting away the match with kills on the final two points. Her kill on match point not only earned the win for her team, but also gave her a season-high kill total.

Playing without starters Abby Jeffcoat (Racine, Wis.) and Shannon Hurley (Connellsville, Pa.), head coach Sean Burdette put two freshmen in his lineup to make their first career start. Lydia DeWeese (Columbus, Ohio) played in just her seventh match of the season while Kayla Pfeiffer (Lockport, Ill.) made her collegiate debut. DeWeese had five kills and two blocks while Pfeiffer, who is listed as a setter, totaled three kills and 11 digs playing as a hitter.

Junior Emily Riese (Fond du Lac, Wis.) directed the Phoenix offense to a hitting percentage of .237 (52 kills, 16 errors). The setter also added 11 digs and three service aces.

Defensively, Green Bay held a strong-hitting offense Oakland team at bay thanks to nine total blocks and five players with double-digit dig numbers. Sophomore Megan Powers (Glendale, Ariz.) had seven blocks (1 solo, 6 assists) and junior libero Jillian Bauer (Verona, Wis.) had 28 digs, including 13 in the final set.

Green Bay is back in action at home on Saturday afternoon, hosting Wright State at 4 p.m.

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