HOUGHTON, MI – A strong start soon went sideways for the University of Mary volleyball team on the opening day of the 2017 Keweenaw Classic. After taking the opening set against host Michigan Tech, the Marauders dropped the next three against a hot-hitting Huskies team in a 3-1 loss (22-25, 25-11, 25-12, 25-12).
 
Picking up her first double double of the season, Lauren Randall led the Marauders with 12 kills and 11 digs. Junior setter Amanda Lopes also picked up a double double with 11 digs and 25 assists.
 
Geovana Almeida chipped in 10 digs. Freshman Morgan Schnabel had nine kills and senior Freddie Campbell contributed seven.
 
Four Huskies had double digit kills, led by MacAulay Peterson with 13. Lauren Emmert and Olivia Ghormley both had 12 and Stephanie Dietrich added 10.
 
Offensively the Marauders struggled after an outstanding start. UMary hit an impressive .394 in the opening set but finished the game with a .140 attack percentage. MTU was stellar throughout, finishing the non-conference match by hitting .421.
 
In addition to MTU's edge in hitting percentage, the Huskies also had a 9-0 advantage in blocks.
 
The Marauders totaled 39 kills in the match, and 17 came in the first set. Down 21-20, the Marauders captured five of the next six points to take an early lead. Randall recorded a kill and an ace while Schnabel and Anna Nietfeld added kills.
 
UMary kept pace early in the second set but the suddenly surging Huskies (3-2 overall) scored 25 of the final 31 points. The tournament host kept rolling into the third set, leading by as many as 19-7. MTU used the same formula in the fourth set to finish off the win for the home team.
 
The Marauders (3-3) next face Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State on Friday and Wisconsin Parkside on Saturday, Sept. 8-9.
 
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