MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Green Bay Volleyball team opened day one of the Chippewa Invitational hosted by Mount Pleasant, Mich. with a split. The Phoenix fell to SEMO in the first match of the day before taking down Eastern Kentucky in the afternoon.
MATCH 1 | SEMO 3, GREEN BAY 1
The Phoenix fell in four sets in the early match against SEMO on Friday (18-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-25).
Kirsten Fish finished with a career-high nine kills to lead the Phoenix offense. Defensively, Green Bay had four players hit double figures in digs, highlighted by Calli Gentry's 20, 17 from Emma Best, 15 from Abby Gardner, and 14 more from Kendall Schara.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | SEMO was strong from the start, building up an 11-4 lead that allowed them to cruise to a 25-18 set win. The Redhawks built up as much as a 10-point lead in the set.
SET 2 | Green Bay was able to even it up in set two with a dominant 25-16 set win. The Phoenix never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage after a 4-0 run to take a 14-10 lead. After trading points with SEMO from that point on, the Phoenix secured the win by another 4-0 run to end the set, 25-16.
SET 3 | The Redhawks bounced back and took the third set 25-16 themselves. SEMO held a slight lead throughout the set but stamped victory by closing the frame with a 7-1 run.
SET 4 | SEMO grabbed their second straight set to close the match out, 25-15. They did it in large part by stopping the Green Bay attack, forcing the Phoenix to hit -.128 in the set.
GAME NOTES
» Ellie Kurpeikis had a match-high four aces in the loss.
» Fish's nine kills are a career-high.
» Green Bay got a team-high 20 digs from Calli Gentry.
MATCH 2 | GREEN BAY 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1
Cora Behnke was outstanding against Eastern Kentucky, notching a season-high
19 kills on a hitting percentage of .313. Katie Schulz also added a career-high 17, and Danilynn Schell chipped in with 13 as part of a balanced Green Bay attack. Things were also balanced on the defensive side of the ball with Gardner finishing with 18 digs, Schara with 16, and Gentry with 11. Gentry also finished with a season-high 48 assists in the match.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Neither team created much separation to start until the Phoenix rattled off a decisive 8-3 run at the close of the set to win it 25-19.
SET 2 | Green Bay grabbed the second set, also by a 25-19 score thanks to a potent offense. The Phoenix finished the set with 13 kills and a .316 hitting percentage, compared to a .119 hitting percentage from E. Kentucky. That trend was evident throughout much of the match. After taking the lead at 6-5, the Phoenix never trailed again.
SET 3 | Green Bay saw its bid for a sweep end when Eastern Kentucky took a tight third set, 26-24. Neither team led by more than three points in the frame.
SET 4 | Green Bay was then able to bounce back and close the match out with a 25-22 fourth-set victory. The Phoenix scored the first five points of the set and never looked back. The fourth set was the strongest from GB offensively, racking up 18 kills and a .357 hitting percentage.
GAME NOTES
» Gardner matched a season-high with her 18 digs.
» Gardner has hit double figures in digs in six of Green Bay's eight matches.
» Kendall Schara had a match-high two aces in the win.
» Diane Pitchelman was a strong defensive presence at the net, finishing with four blocks.
» Behnke's 19 kills were one away from matching a career-high.
COMING UP
Green Bay will close out the weekend tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. CT against Central Michigan. Next weekend, the Phoenix has its home opener next week on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. CT against #19 Minnesota.
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