GREEN BAY, Wis. --Emma Best and Hannah Vanden Berg each notched double-doubles to help power the Green Bay volleyball team to a 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-23) over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies Friday at home at the Kress Center.
The win improved Green Bay's record to 14-15 overall and 12-5 in the Horizon League. The Phoenix is currently tied with Milwaukee for the No. 2 spot in the HL Championships and hold the tiebreaker against the Panthers. If the Phoenix was to secure the No. 2 seed tomorrow, they would receive a first-round bye in next weekend's Horizon League Championships.
Best finished with 10 kills and 21 digs, while Vanden Berg finished with 11 kills and 19 digs. Tiffany Paalman led GB offensively with 15 kills. Abby Gardner was immense defensively, finishing with 31 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Oakland grabbed the first set 25-22 thanks to a late surge. The two teams were tied up seven times, including a 20-20 tie. The Golden Grizzlies then went on a 5-2 run to close out the set.
SET 2 | Green Bay fired back by taking the second set 25-18, evening the match at one set apiece. The Phoenix scored first and never trailed the entire way. Green Bay opened its biggest lead of the stanza, seven points, to close out the set, totaling 16 kills along the way. The Phoenix hit .333 in the frame.
SET 3 | The third set was the most potent the Phoenix offense was all night, racking up 16 kills on a .429 hitting percentage. GB led the entire way once again and took the set 25-19. The Phoenix finished the set with just one attack error.
SET 4 | Green Bay closed out the match with a thrilling 25-23 fourth-set victory. The Phoenix trailed by as many as seven at 17-10 before going on an 11-1 run to take a 21-18 lead. The Green & White got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked four Oakland attacks and capitalized on 10 Oakland attacking errors.
GAME NOTES
» Ellie Kurpeikis was strong at the net, leading the team with six blocks on the night.
» Green Bay had four players in double figures in kills.
» Green Bay had four players in double figures in digs.
» Vanden Berg had a match-high two aces in the win.
» Green Bay never trailed in the second or third sets.
» Tiffany Paalman had a match-high 15 kills for Green Bay.
» GB outhit Oakland .236 to .178.
» Emma Johnson finished the night with 48 assists.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix will close out the regular season at the Kress Center tomorrow against Cleveland State at 4 p.m. Green Bay will recognize their seniors, Tiffany Paalman and Hannah Vanden Berg for senior day.
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