Racers Survive Five Set Thriller Against UMD

LIMA, OH - UNOH volleyball faced heavy adversity Friday night in The Garage but fended off UM-Dearborn with extra points in game five for their fifth 3-2 win of the season.

Things were tough for the Racers from the onset falling behind 23-20 in the first set of the night. Following a timeout, they rallied to take five straight points to steal game one 25-23. The Wolverines jumped out to a 4-1 lead to start game two, but after the Racers scored four consecutive points they didn't trail again winning 25-18 to go up 2-0 in the match. 

Again, it was a quick start for UM-Dearborn in game three but this time they were able to hold off a furious comeback attempt with UNOH fighting off five straight set-points before the Wolverines earned the winner, 25-19. The night's trends continued into game four with UM-Dearborn taking an early 6-1 advantage leading wire-to-wire to even night with a 25-20 win.

One more time, the Racers had to battle from behind after going down 4-1 out of the gate in game five. The Wolverines ended up with the first match-point of the night up 14-12, but UNOH fending it off four times (14-12, 14-13, 15-14, 16-15) to take their first lead since winning set two, 17-16, before finishing the job on the next point to win 18-16 and 3-2 in the match.

"We really dug deep tonight," said head coach Josh Kreiner following the match. "We understood what we needed to do in the most critical moments and executed. Aliyah and Hannah stepped up and got us two huge blocks when we needed it at the end of game five and we found a way to finish."

Gianna San Filippo led the way with 15 kills on 33 attacks adding six assisted blocks and one solo for 19 points. Abigail Martin added 14 kills and Hannah Colquitt finished with ten. Colquitt also added six block assists and a solo with Aliyah Saylor assisting a season high five times.

Savanna Reed and Madelyn Hampton split 44 assists evenly and Reed finished with her eleventh double-double of the year adding ten digs. Riley Treece led the team defensively with a career high 20 digs while Alli Lopez added twelve and Bailey Gregory chipped in eleven.

"Riley was also great for us tonight setting her new career mark," Kreiner continued. We had to make some defensive adjustments on the fly and she really came through. I'm proud of this team tonight and excited for another chance tomorrow."

That chance will come in the form of Madonna at home on Saturday. With the win over UMD Friday, the Racers are now 5-1 this season in five-set matches and will have a chance to avenge their lone loss against the Crusaders.