UM-Dearborn celebrated the start of the new school year with a Welcome Back Tailgate prior to the start of the match. 

The home team recovered from a slow start, trailing by as many as six points in the first set, to come out on top in three, 25-23, 25-19, 25-19. The win moves UM-Dearborn to 3-3 overall as the team prepares to open Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play next week.

The Wolverines spread the offense around in the win, led by eight kills from freshman Gina Giacomini (FR/Plymouth, MI). Junior Erin Parrinello (JR/Westland, MI) and senior Shayla Smalls (SR/Canton, MI) each added seven kills, while the offense was paced by the setting duo of Daniella Barile (SO/Plymouth, MI) and Sabrina Giacomini (FR/Plymouth, MI), who finished with 15 and 11 assists, respectively,

The defense was led by junior Libero Heather Roberts (JR/Flint, MI) with 10 digs, while Smalls and Bri Alspaugh (SR/St. Louis, MI) each finished with two block assists. Parrinello added one solo block and one block assist. Alspaugh added three service aces. 

The Wolverines finished with 33 total kills and a .216 hitting percentage.

UM-Dearborn opens WHAC competition in a matchup with Indiana Tech at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in Fort Wayne, Ind.