GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay volleyball team won their first Horizon League match of the season in comeback fashion, finishing Purdue Fort Wayne off in five sets (20-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-23, 15-10).
Tiffany Paalman finished with a career-high 18 kills to lead the Phoenix offense. Cora Behnke was also huge for Green Bay, finishing with a double-double, 12 kills and 14 digs on the day. On the defensive end, Emma Best chipped in for with 18 digs to go with three blocks from Behnke.
Panna Ratkai led Purdue Fort Wayne, finishing with 17 kills. Ashby Willis was just behind Ratkai with 15 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Green Bay was strong on the offensive end in the first set, putting together a .385 attack percentage with 12 kills, but fell just short at 25-20. Purdue Fort Wayne had a crucial 4-0 run in the middle of the set that gave them a six-point lead that they wouldn't relinquish.
SET 2 | Green Bay fought back from a first-set loss to take the second set 25-19, tying the match at 1-1. It was a set of runs for the Phoenix, who rattled off an 8-1 run and separate 7-0 run after being tied at 14 all to take the set. The Green Bay offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza.
SET 3 | The Mastodons made quick work of the Phoenix in the third set, taking a 2-1 lead after a 25-15 set score.
SET 4 | Green Bay responded in the fourth with a 25-23 set win to force a fifth set. Green Bay found themselves down 21-16 at one point, and rattled off a clutch 8-0 run that put them in the driver's seat. GB was solid defensively in the frame, blocking five PFW attacks.
SET 5 | The momentum was on the side of the Phoenix and that showed at the start of the fifth set when the team jumped out to a 9-4 lead. The visitors made it interesting late, but GB closed out the set and match to secure their first Horizon League win of the season.
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay had five players in double figures in digs.
» Hannah Vanden Berg had a team-high five aces.
» Green Bay outhit PFW with a .180 attack percentage compared to the Mastodons' .155.
» Paalman and Behnke led GB with three blocks apiece.
» Emma Johnson finished the match with 41 assists.
COMING UP
The Green & White will look to move to 2-0 in league play tomorrow when they host IUPUI at 4 p.m. at the Kress Center. Next weekend the Phoenix will travel first to Youngstown State on Friday, Sept. 29 before taking on Robert Morris on Saturday, Sept. 30.
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