GREEN BAY, Wis. – A five-game win streak came to an end Friday night as the Green Bay volleyball team fell to the Wright State Raiders in five sets (22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 12-15) at the Kress Events Center.
The loss dropped Green Bay's record to 7-11 overall and 5-1 in Horizon League play. GB is now tied at the top of the HL standings with Wright State and Milwaukee.
The Phoenix offense was paced by Hannah Vanden Berg, who finished with 18 kills on the day on a hitting percentage of .333. Tiffany Paalman added 14 and Cora Behnke chipped in with 12 as part of a balanced Green Bay attack. Defensively, GB had two players reach double figures in digs as Abby Gardner finished with a season-high 23 and Emma Best had 13. Emma Johnson finished with 50 assists. She has now finished with 50+ three times this season.
Aaliyah Byers led the Raiders with a match-high 20 kills. Katie Meyer finished with 40 assists and Jenny Wessling had 24 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Raiders struck first, claiming a back-and-forth first set, 25-22. There was eight ties throughout the frame, and neither team lead by more than three points.
SET 2 | Green Bay responded to pick up a 25-22 victory of their own in set two. The Phoenix earned the set victory thanks to a dynamic attack that registered 15 kills on a .364 attack percentage.
SET 3 | Green Bay built on that second-set success with a victory in set number three to open up a lead at two sets to one. GB controlled set three the entire way, grabbing the lead at 3-2 and never looking back en route to a 25-18 win. The offense once again collected 15 kills and only committed two attack errors in the process. The Green Bay offense also got a boost from four aces.
SET 4 | Green Bay couldn't keep the win streak going, as the Raiders forced a fifth set with a 25-20 fourth-set win. Wright State trailed 19-15, but rattled off a 9-0 run that gave them a 24-19 lead that they would close out.
SET 5 | The fifth set came right down to the wire, with the two teams finding themselves tied at 11 all. Unfortunately, the Raiders grabbed four of the match's final five points to take the set 15-12 and the match 3-2.
GAME NOTES
» Wright State slightly outhit Green Bay .260 to .232.
» Johnson and Vanden Berg each had a team-high two aces.
» Ellie Kurpeikis had a strong defensive showing, blocking five WSU attacks.
COMING UP
The Phoenix will look to get back on track against Northern Kentucky tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Kress Center. The Norse are 9-8 overall and 4-2 in HL play heading into the match.
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