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In a battle of NAIA top-20 programs, ninth-ranked Lourdes defeated 18^th-ranked Madonna 25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18 on Saturday afternoon at the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center to finish the regular season a perfect 9-0 in their new building.
 
The victory also extended the Gray Wolves' overall home court winning streak to 25 in a row dating back to Tam-o-Shanter.  Lourdes has now won 15 straight matches overall and 37 consecutive Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season contests.
 
"This was just good, solid volleyball today," head coach Greg Reitz said after the match.  "The support we have here at home is phenomenal and the team really feeds off of it.  Today we were locked in a defensive battle and are happy to come away with a win."
 
The Gray Wolves hit just .101 for the match, but held the Crusaders to a .096 clip, with 346 attack attempts combined between the two schools.  Madonna held a slim 81-78 dig advantage and outblocked Lourdes 15-7 for the afternoon.
 
Lourdes jumped in front early in the opening set, 9-3, behind the service of Carolyn Manley (Holland, Ohio/Springfield H.S.).  The Gray Wolves maintained their advantage, leading 15-8, when Madonna went on a 10-3 run to tie the set at 18.  Lourdes immediately responded though, scoring the next four points to regain control on the way to taking the opening set.
 
The second set was tight throughout, with six ties.  Lourdes trailed early, 10-7, before four straight points put the Gray Wolves in front.  Madonna would not lead again in the stanza, and after the Gray Wolves built a two-point lead, 13-11, Lourdes would not allow the Crusaders to even tie the set.
 
Madonna took control of the third set early, leading 16-9.  The Crusaders had 10 set points leading 24-14, but the Gray Wolves fought off the first seven before eventually dropping their first set at home all season.
 
Manley's serve to start the fourth set put Lourdes in front 8-1, and the Gray Wolves never allowed Madonna to tie the set, allowing Lourdes to remain undefeated in WHAC play.
 
Stephanie Ruffing (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty H.S.), Molly Shonk (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley H.S.), and Meghan Birr (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores H.S.) all recorded double-doubles to lead the Gray Wolves.  Ruffing had 14 kills and 14 digs while Shonk added 13 kills and 14 digs.  Birr handed out 34 assists and tallied 11 digs defensively.
 
Ave Stout (Huntertown, Ind./Bishop Luers H.S.) had nine kills and four blocks while Angelica Dippold (Louisville, Ky./Mercy Academy) registered a team-high 21 digs.
 
Karlie Kelly led Madonna (26-6, 11-2 WHAC) with 16 kills and 11 digs while Lauren Korth had 40 assists and 11 digs.  Deanna Krumholz registered a match-high 27 digs for the Crusaders.
 
Lourdes (20-3, 14-0) will take to the road to close out the regular season, beginning Wednesday evening as the Gray Wolves head to Cornerstone.  First serve is set for 7 p.m. at Mol Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.