ROCHESTER, Mich. — Fifth-year senior Lindsay Wightman totaled a season-high 37 digs while graduate senior Jamie Walling broke a program record in career sets played, as the Oakland University volleyball program celebrated Senior Day with a five-set victory over Cleveland State (25-18, 16-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-10) on Friday night inside the Athletics Center O'rena. OU recognized its nine seniors alongside family both before and after the Horizon League match. 

The Golden Grizzlies (15-9, 9-4 HL) tallied a season-best 95 digs in the victory. Wightman's 37 digs were good for the fourth-highest mark in school history and the 10th-most by an individual in a five-set Division I match this season. She added six assists and two service aces in the all-around performance. Walling stood out with 14 digs to go along with nine kills and four blocks. She reached her 477th career set in the third period, which elevated her to the top spot in program history. 

Senior Jessica Riedl shined with team-leading marks in kills (14) and blocks (5). Redshirt freshman Patti Cesarini helped out the attack with 12 kills. Junior setters AnnaBelle Tomei and Madison Ross combined for 39 assists with totals of 23 and 16, respectively. Senior Kerra Cornist contributed with six kills and three blocks. 

Oakland started strong with a commanding 25-18 opening-set win. Holding a mere 15-14 advantage, the Golden Grizzlies went on a 6-1 run to extend their lead to 21-15 and cruised the rest of the way. Wightman got things going with eight digs and three assists in the set. 

CSU (8-16, 6-7) evened the match at one set apiece with a 25-16 victory in set two. The Golden Grizzlies trailed by only two points, 11-9, near the halfway point, but the Vikings finished the period on a 14-7 run. The Oakland attack was limited to a match-low -.045 hitting percentage in the set. 

OU answered back by hitting .441 in the following set, which resulted in a 25-16 victory. Cesarini and Riedl both had five kills apiece to lead the charge. Once again, Cleveland State did not back down, forcing a fifth and final set with its own 25-16 triumph in period four. 

The Vikings continued to hold the momentum in set five, gaining a 4-0 advantage. However, Oakland stormed back with a late 8-0 run to clinch a match-deciding 15-10 victory at home. Wightman proved to be a difference-maker in the period with four digs and two aces. 

The Golden Grizzlies will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 4, at Green Bay. 

Highlights