BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – #21 Winona State (5-0) finished the first week of the regular season 5-0 after going two-for-two on Saturday. The day started with a 3-1 victory over Grand Valley State (1-2) 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 27-25. Against the tournament hosts, the Warriors held on for a 3-1 victory over #8 Ferris State (1-3), 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21.
 
The Warriors streak of 11 straight set victories was snapped against Grand Valley State but it did not stop the team from taking the match. Winona State was led by 18 kills by Taylor Goar, a season high, on 61 attacks. Danielle Rampart had 22 digs to go along with nine kills and two blocks. Jamie Cairncross was a big part of the reason that the Lakers hit only .121 after she racked up 28 digs. The Warriors also played big at the net, combing for nine blocks.
 
Winona State was able to grab some early momentum and take a 5-1 lead. Grand Valley State would rally back and took a three-point lead midway through the set. Following a Winona State timeout, the Warriors scored five straight points, forcing a GVSU timeout. With the score at 18-17 late in the set, the Warriors dug in and finished the set on a 7-2 run, winning 25-19.
 
It was a back and forth battle early in the second set but GVSU tried to pull away, going up 12-7. Winona State was able to rally once again, going on a 5-0 run to tie the set at twelve. The Warriors put together another mini-run moments later to take a 17-14 lead. The lead would grow to five at 22-17, but three straight GVSU points made things interesting. After a Winona State timeout, the Warriors scored three straight to take a two sets to none lead.
 
The Lakers would get on the board in the third set, using a 6-1 run late to get the win.  Grand Valley State held the Warriors to just 0.21 hitting to win a defensive set. The teams combined for 18 attack errors and 21 kills in the set.
 
The fourth and final set was the most competitive in the match. Neither team could find much separation, the largest lead for either team was just three, at 13-10 in favor of the Warriors. Grand Valley State would kill off two match points but no more as a kill from Maria Fruechte gave Winona State the victory.
 
Ferris State, the number eight team in AVCA, looked like it early, grabbing a 14-10 lead in the first set. Winona State kept the Bulldogs within reach and tied the set up late at 22. After a Ferris State timeout, the Bulldogs struck first but Winona State scored the next two points to earn a set point. A kill from McKenna Larsen would secure a 25-23 win.
 
The Warriors started the second set with three straight points before a service error put Ferris State on the board. Ferris State would come back and tie the set moments later and the set stayed tight the rest of the way. Late in the set the Warriors clung to a 22-20, lead forcing a FSU timeout. The timeout failed to swing the momentum and a kill from Fruechte ended the set at 25-20.
 
Lauren Kudronowicz had ten kills for the Warriors through the first two sets. Three Warriors; Rampart, Larsen and Cairncross had double digit digs through two sets. The Warriors were out hitting the Bulldogs .258-.168 after the second set.
 
Winona State went out in front 11-6 in the third set as they looked to earn their fourth sweep of the young season. The Bulldogs closed to within two but the Warriors responded pushing their lead to four at 15-11, forcing a FSU timeout. The timeout didn't do much to stop the Warriors who moved in front by five after a kill from Goar. Ferris State would rally late after trailing 20-15 to tie the set at twenty. Goar and Kudronowicz would provide back-to-back kills giving the Warriors a slight 22-20 lead. Unfortunately, the Warriors could not hold the lead and Ferris State won 25-23.
 
The fourth set was tied at eight when Winona State tried to put a clamp on the set, going up 13-8 with five quick points. Just like in set three the Warriors found themselves up 20-15 late in the set. Unlike the previous set, Winona State was able to hold off a late rally, winning 25-21 to secure the upset victory.
 
Kudronowicz finished with 16 kills and was one of five Warriors in double figures. Maria Wrage had 12 kills without a single error on 18 swings. Goar added 13 while Fruechte (12) and Rampart (10) also finished in double digits. Five Warriors had 10+ digs, led by 21 from Larsen, she also tallied 56 assists in the match.
 
Winona State will now be off until next Friday when they head to the Sanford Heath Pentagon Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.