November 2, 2012

For Immediate Release

Box score

Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Indiana Tech volleyball team downed conference rival University of Northwestern Ohio 3-1 (25-19, 15-25, 25-20, 25-14) in front of a charged up crowd in the Schaefer Center on Friday night in the NAIA National Match of the Week.

It was a pivotal WHAC matchup for both squads, who entered the contest tied with two other teams for second place in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference with 8-2 records. But it was the Warriors who prevailed tonight, silencing the high-powered Racer offense, to remain unbeaten against UNOH in eight all-time matches.

It was also Senior Night for Indiana Tech, and before the match the Warriors honored their four seniors, Kelsey Cox (Flushing, MI/Grand Rapids), Darcie Faylor (Ft. Wayne, IN/Kishwaukee), Kayla Foreman (Decatur, IN/Adams Central), and Kelsea Nova (Toledo, OH/Bowsher), for all of their contributions to the program over the years.

Tech sprinted out a 3-0 lead to begin the match and would never trail on their way to taking the first set.

However, the second set was all Northwestern Ohio (31-5, 8-3 WHAC). With the score tied 10-10, the Racers used a 7-1 run to open up a big lead. The Warriors tried to mount a comeback, getting within five, but the visitors held off the charge to even the match at one set apiece.

Still riding the momentum to start the third set, Northwestern Ohio built a 7-3 advantage. But the Racer offense stalled allowing the Warriors to get back in the game and knot the score at 9-9. An attack error by UNOH followed by a kill from sophomore Christine Foest (Welland, Ont./Notre Dame HS) gave Tech its first lead of the set, 14-12.

The Warriors would take over from there, and after a cross-court kill by Stacy Nagy (Temperance, MI/Bedford), a Racer error would give Tech a 2-1 edge heading into the fourth set.

In the fourth set, errors would continue to hurt Northwestern Ohio as the Racers committed 11 during the final set, allowing the Warriors to run away with the victory.

Cox paced the Warriors with 14 kills on the night. She was followed by Nagy and Nova who had 13 apiece. Nova also added 15 digs to record her seventh double-double of the season. Junior setter Kelsey Fitzpatrick (Holland, OH/Notre Dame Academy) also registered a double-double, distributing 42 assists while scooping up 11 digs.

The Racers were led by the WHAC’s kill leader Casey Gates who hammered down a match-high 15. Lauren Maxwell finished with 34 assists and Ellie Comes picked up 20 digs.

The Warriors (24-11, 9-2 WHAC) finished the regular season in a tie for second place in the conference standings and will enter the postseason with a No. 3 seed when the WHAC Tournament begins on Wednesday, Nov. 7.

For more information on Indiana Tech athletics please call the Athletic Office at 260-422-5561 ext. 2492 or visit our website at http://www.indianatech.edu/athletics