ROCHESTER, Mich. — The Oakland University volleyball program closed the Golden Grizzlies Invitational with a straight-set win over in-state foe Eastern Michigan (25-20, 25-21, 25-15) on Sunday afternoon at the Athletics Center O'rena.
As a team, the Golden Grizzlies (2-3) had a season-high .295 hitting percentage. A pair of seniors in
Jamie Walling and
Kerra Cornist displayed efficiency in the attack with striking percentages above .400. Walling totaled a team-leading 13 kills (.423), while Cornist had seven kills in just 10 attempts (.700). Redshirt freshman
Patti Cesarini helped out with 10 spikes, marking the fourth-straight match she reached double-digits in the category. The senior duo
Jessica Riedl and
Brittany Welch also helped out with eight kills apiece. Riedl earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, which the participants' head coaches voted on.
OU setters
AnnaBelle Tomei and
Madison Ross contributed with assist totals of 20 and 19, respectively. For this second time this weekend, the Golden Grizzlies matched a season-best in aces with seven. Fifth-year senior
Lindsay Wightman led the way with three aces to go along with a match-high 20 digs. She was named MVP of the Golden Grizzlies Invitational after the match. Tomei and junior
Haley Brown tied for second on the team with eight digs each.
Oakland held the Eagles (2-3) to a .173 hitting percentage, four blocks, and three aces in the win. The Golden Grizzlies exhibited consistency by leading for the entirety of the second and third sets.
EMU started hot with an early 10-6 lead in the opening set. OU answered back with a 7-0 run to take a 13-10 advantage into the period's midway point. The Eagles tied the set at 14-all following a block, but the Golden Grizzlies took the next five points to get in front, 19-14. Oakland held onto the lead for the rest of the way, highlighted by a 4-0 run to clinch a 25-20 set win.
OU raced out to an 8-1 lead in set two. Three of Oakland's first eight points were aces. The Golden Grizzly advantage grew to 22-11, but the Eagles minimized their deficit to four, 22-18, following a 7-0 spurt. Despite the rally, Oakland finished on top, 25-21.
In set three, the momentum continued in OU's favor as the Golden Grizzlies found themselves ahead 7-2. EMU inched within two, 9-7, following an attack error, but Oakland responded with an 8-3 run, which proved too much for the Eagles to overcome. A kill by Tomei clinched a 25-15 set win and match victory for OU.
The Golden Grizzlies will head back on the road next weekend for the DePaul Invitational from Sept. 10-11.
#GrizzVision with Rob Beam
