Sophomore middle hitter Chloe Hanel's match-high 18 kills and .441 hitting percentage helped #25 Wayne State College rally for a 26-28, 25-10, 25-15, 25-18 victory Friday afternoon over Lewis University of Illinois in the opening match of the 2025 Colorado Premier Challenge Volleyball Tournament in Denver.  The Wildcats improve to 4-1 on the year while the Flyers drop to 3-2.
            The Wildcats controlled the first set until the end as WSC had several match points and led 24-18 at one point before a furious Lewis rally gave the Flyers a 28-26 first set win over the 'Cats.
            Freshmen Delaney Miller and Mattie Kamery each produced four kills in the set, but the 'Cats were hampered by nine attack errors and a .157 hitting percentage with Lewis rallying for the set win.
            Wayne State roared back in the second set, posting 16 kills and a .560 hitting percentage in cruising to a 25-10 set victory to even the match at 1-1.  The 'Cats held Lewis to a .032 hitting percentage forcing seven errors in the set.
            Hanel and Channatee Robles each had five kills in the second set for WSC while defensive specialist Reese Johnson collected eight digs.
            The 'Cats were equally as impressive in the third set as Wayne State rolled to a 25-15 set win thanks to a .370 hitting percentage with 13 kills and just three errors.  With WSC leading 9-5, sophomore libero Anna Borner served seven straight points including an ace to give the 'Cats a commanding 17-5 advantage.
            Hanel and Kamery both accounted for five kills in the third set win while Borner and Kamery each had service aces.
            The fourth set was a little closer as the two teams exchanged seven ties and five lead changes early on, but WSC scored six straight points in the middle part of the set to take control for a 25-18 set win and match win by a score of 3-1.  Wayne State forced nine Lewis attack errors in the final set, holding the Flyers to a .026 hitting percentage.
            Hanel had five kills and one solo block in the final set while Kamery added three kills and seven digs.
            Wayne State finished the match with a .268 hitting percentage compared to just .097 for Lewis.  The "Cats held a 59-40 advantage in kills and 70-57 in digs.  WSC had seven service aces to just four errors and both teams had six blocks.
            Hanel's 18 kills and .441 hitting percentage led the 'Cats offensively followed by Kamery and Robles with 12 kills apiece.  Johnson and Kamery both had 19 digs followed by Robles with 12 and Borner 11.  Borner produced four of Wayne State's seven service aces in the win while Laney Kathol and Robles each had three blocks.  Setter Molly Romano handed out 47 set assists.       
            The Wildcats play another match late Friday afternoon at the Colorado Premier Challenge facing #3 MSU Denver at 3 p.m. Central Time.