LIMA, Ohio -- In a thrilling volleyball contest held at The Garage on Friday (Oct. 25), the University of Michigan-Dearborn volleyball team narrowly lost to the University of Northwestern Ohio Racers by a score of 2-3. Despite a valiant comeback effort in the later sets, the Wolverines could not clinch the final victory.

The match started unfavorably for UM-Dearborn, with the Wolverines losing the first two sets 23-25 and 18-25. However, the Wolverines rallied impressively to win the next two sets, 25-19 and 25-20, pushing the match to a decisive fifth set. The tension peaked in the final set, where both teams fought hard. The Wolverines led 12-10 late into the set, but the Racers snuck out a victory on their home court. 

Kielee Tondryk showcased her skills by leading the Wolverines with 20 kills, supported by Jill Paryaski and Marisa Fetterley, who added 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Paryaski also notably contributed defensively, with 5.0 total blocks. Defensive efforts were bolstered by Kenzie Mertz, who had a team-high 30 digs, followed by Evelyn Rummel and Laura Chandler, who had 15 and 14 digs each. Ellie MacDonald significantly impacted with four aces, while Regan Rose orchestrated the offense with 42 assists.

The hard-fought match moves UM-Dearborn's current record to 12-10 overall and 4-9 in the league. Despite the loss, the Wolverines demonstrated resilience and skill, pushing a formidable opponent to the limits. They look to bounce back on Saturday (Oct. 26) against the Indiana Tech Racers.