Box Score
Lourdes thrilled the capacity crowd at Tam-o-Shanter on Wednesday evening for its home opener, coming from behind to defeat Siena Heights in five sets 25-15, 15-25, 18-25, 26-24, 15-9.
 
"The crowd was awesome from set one all the way through the entire match," head coach Greg Reitz stated after the win.  "It was great to have so many fans out to support us tonight.  It was a great environment and one that I hope will continue throughout the season."
 
Trailing two sets to one in the non-conference match, Lourdes had to battle throughout the fourth set to extend the match.  The set was tight throughout, with 12 ties and six lead changes and neither team holding more than a three-point advantage at any point in the set.  Angie Pagan-Perez (Toa Baja, P.R./Bayamon Military Academy) tallied a kill to put the Gray Wolves up 25-24 before a Saints attack error forced the fifth set.
 
Siena Heights raced out to a 5-1 lead in the fifth before Ali Mass (Walbridge, Ohio/Tiffin Calvert H.S.) went on a run at the service line.  Eight straight points by the Gray Wolves put the hosts on top 9-5 and Stef Comte (Toledo, Ohio/Notre Dame H.S.) added four more points off of her serve put Lourdes within a point of winning and a Keyonna Gregory (Holland, Ohio/Springfield H.S.) capped the comeback.
 
"It was great to see us battle back in sets four and five," Reitz added.  "We saw some gutty performances out there and began to execute our game plan."
 
Lourdes jumped out to an early lead with an opening set victory.  Katie McKenty (Toledo, Ohio/Notre Dame H.S.) tallied a pair of service aces as part of a 7-0 run that put the Gray Wolves on top for good 12-5.  Sam Dibert (Hartland, Mich./Hartland H.S.) added more solid serving as part of a 6-0 spurt to extend the lead to 18-8.
 
In set two Siena Heights opened with nine of the first 10 points to  take control of the set and never allowed Lourdes to get any closer that four the remainder of the set.  An 11-4 run in the third set gave the Saints a 16-9 lead and a two sets to one lead, setting the stage for Lourdes comeback.
 
"I liked the way we played in the first set," Reitz stated.  "We hit efficiently, played good defense and had some strong serving.  We didn't continue that with any consistency though and found ourselves behind quickly."
 
Pagan-Perez and Lexie Curtis (Toledo, Ohio/Bedford H.S.) each tallied their first collegiate double-doubles to lead the way for Lourdes.  Pagan-Perez had a team-high 12 kills and added 14 digs while Curtis handed out 31 assists and tallied 12 digs.  Gregory added 11 kills while Alyssa Pelish (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic H.S.) had a match-high 17 digs.  McKenty had four of Lourdes seven aces in the match.
 
Halie Baker led Siena Heights (0-1) with 16 kills while Brianna Baker added 14 kills and 15 digs for the Saints.
 
Lourdes (3-2) will have a week off before facing another Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opponent in a non-conference tilt.  The Gray Wolves will face Lawrence Tech next Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. at the Ridler Fieldhouse in Southfield, Mich.