DEARBORN, Mich. – The outcome looked bleak at the end of the third set, but the University of Michigan-Dearborn (7-7, 3-2) volleyball team never gave up. Thanks in large part to fifth-year senior Regan Sliwinski. Sliwinski was a thorn in the Concordia (MI) Cardinals (11-5, 2-3) side all night as she led everyone with 18.5 points. After falling in the third set 25-21, Sliwinski leaned on her veteran leadership and brought the Wolverines to life after trailing 10-5 in the fourth set. The Wolverines would take the fourth set and win a decisive fifth set to complete the come-from-behind victory. 

Despite being efficient with their swings in the first set, the Wolverines tallied nine fewer kills than the Cardinals (20-11) and dropped the first set 25-21. The Wolverines connected the dots in the second set as they flipped the script on the Cardinals. UM-Dearborn tallied 15 kills in 36 attempts (.222), while CUAA tallied a measly five kills in 28 attempts and had six errors (-.036). The Wolverines ran away with the set, winning 25-16 and tying the match up at 1-1. 

Errors destroyed the Wolverines in set three as they tallied 10 total errors in the set. That proved the difference as they lost the set 25-21, and the air seemed to be removed from the building as they went down 2-1. That carried over into the fourth set as the Wolverines seemingly were out of the match as they were down 10-5. The senior captain, Sliwinski, was seen urging teammates to keep their heads up, and later Sliwinski delivered the kill to tie the setup at 10 a piece and force the Cardinals to call a timeout. UM-Dearborn would not surrender the lead during the remainder of the set, leading to a dominating 25-16 win. 

Down 8-4 in the fifth set, UM-Dearborn would again escape the depths of defeat as they rattled off an 11-2 run to claim an emotional victory. 

Five Wolverines tallied double-digit points, while Kenzie Mertz was spectacular in the back as she added 29 digs.