MARQUETTE, MI -- Winona State University ran into some strong teams start the season and dropped a pair of matches in the Wildcat Open.
The Warriors opened with a 3-1 loss to No. 13 Univeristy of California-San Diego and then fell to the host team from the Northern Michigan University, which received votes in the preseason poll, 3-0.
Against UC-SD the Warriors lost the first two games 25-11 and 25-16 before coming up with a 25-15 win in the third game. UC-SD then wrapped up the contest with a 25-16 decision.
During the match the Warriors held the lead three times, while the scored was tied eight times.
Leading the Warriors was
Lauren Brown, who came up with a team-high 12 kills.
Victoria Weatherly posted 23 assists, while
Shannon McGowan recorded 16 digs and
Kathy Lohff came up with four total blocks.
The Warriors fought off Northern Michigan in all three games only to suffer difficult losses 25-22, 25-21 and 25-16. In this match the score was tied 17 times and the lead changed seven times.
In this match
Carmen Stankowski came up with team highs of 10 kills and 13 digs, Weatherly totaled 21 assists and 12 digs and Brown finished with 10 digs.
Jenna Padley added two total blocks.