DETROIT, Michigan - The 2021 season began for the Walsh Cavaliers volleyball team this weekend at the Warrior Invitational, hosted by Wayne State on Friday (Sept. 3) and Saturday (Sept. 4). 

The Cavaliers swept their Friday matches with 3-1 wins over Daemen and East Stroudsburg. Saturday was a battle as Walsh dropped a pair of five-set matches to West Liberty and Wayne State. 

Olivia Maczuzak and Olivia Kearns were named to the All-Tournament Team. 

Friday vs. Daemen

• Score: Walsh 3, Daemen 1 (25-23, 19-25, 33-31, 25-15)

For the Cavaliers 

• Grace Lindquist led all kills at 13 on the day while also adding a team-high .276 hitting % and a match-high of 14 points.
• Olivia Maczuzak totaled 18 digs on the day, a match high. Maczuzak also chipped in 10 kills on offense.
• Alexis Gilland reached double digit kills with 12 for Walsh. 
• Setter Olivia Kearns led all players with 43 assists. Kearns also added two aces and 9 digs. 
• In her debut as a Cavalier, freshman Anna West contributed 11 kills and three block assists to help lead the Cavs to victory.
• Sydnee Marks gave the Cavaliers three service aces and ten digs. 
• Natalie Brutscher and Sam Wentz combined for 26 digs, as they tallied 12 and 14, respectively. 

For the Wildcats

• Jordan Martin led all Wildcats with ten kills along with 16 digs on defense.
• Caitlyn Meyer was tied for the team lead with ten kills.
• The leading defender for the Wildcats was Martin and Mickaley Monahan, who each had 16 digs. 

Friday vs. East Stroudsburg

• Score: Walsh 3, East Stroudsburg 1 (25-15, 29-27, 23-25, 25-15)

For the Cavaliers

• Maczuzak led the Cavaliers with a career-high 21 kills and added ten digs for a double-double. 
• Gilland had 17 kills in Friday's nightcap, while hitting .394 overall. 
• Lindquist had the highest hitting percentage for Walsh as she hit .467 for the match with nine kills. 
• Wentz added 12 digs on defense with three aces. 
• Kearns assisted on 51 points for the Cavaliers with nine digs.
• As a team, Walsh hit .296 for the match with a .438 attack % in set one.

For the Warriors

• Ali Finch paced the offense with 19 kills, scoring 20.5 points.
• Kaylee LoPresto had ten kills on offense.
• Emily Meredith managed 16 digs on defense.

Saturday vs. West Liberty

• Score: West Liberty 3, Walsh 2 (25-13, 25-27, 15-25, 25-14, 12-15)

For the Cavaliers 

• Maczuzak added her third straight double-double with 20 kills and a career-best 22 digs. 
• Gilland gave Walsh 13 kills on offense. 
• Kearns led all players with 46 assists, while adding two aces and 19 digs. 
• Rebecca Dunkle made an impact with 11 kills and five block assists. 
• Marks had 13 digs on defense. 
• West (one solo/four assists) and King (two solo/three assists) each had five blocks along with Dunkle.
• Wentz finished with 20 digs.

For the Hilltoppers

• Madison Clayton led West Liberty with 10 kills. 
• Nyia Setla totaled 32 digs for the defense of the Hilltoppers. 
• Laura Gamel (13 digs), Katelynn Fritz/Kristen Bogunovich (12 digs) assisted on the defensive end for West Liberty. 

Saturday vs. Wayne State

• Score: Wayne State 3, Walsh 2 (19-25, 26-28, 25-22, 28-26, 11-15)

For the Cavaliers

• Maczuzak went four-for-four with double-doubles as she put up 20 kills and ten digs.  
• Gilland had 18 kills in the battle, while hitting .277 overall. 
• Arora Levengood had 11 digs in the final match of the weekend.
• Wentz paced all players with 22 digs.
• Kearns assisted on 44 points for the Cavaliers with 11 digs.
• King had three aces and five blocks.

For the Warriors

• Lauren VanderWal had a match-high 28 kills.
• Kamryn Duffield made 60 assists and 22 digs.

The Cavaliers will host the Cavalier Invitational at the Cecchini Center on Friday (Sept. 10) and Saturday (Sept. 11). 

-WC-