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Lourdes opened the 2018 season on Friday evening, posting a 25-19, 25-23, 18-25, 25-20 victory over Taylor inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center in the Gray Wolf Invitational.
 
"I was very happy to come away with a win against a quality opponent," head coach Greg Reitz said following the match.  "There was sound defense played on both sides of the net.  They forced us to take more swings than we were ready for, but our serve and pass won us the match."
 
The Gray Wolves never trailed in the opening set, racing out to a 10-3 lead.  Tylar Roberson (Elkhart, Ind./Central H.S.) put down five kills on eight swings in the stanza, helping Lourdes to the early advantage in the match.  The Gray Wolves led 17-9 when Taylor went on a run, closing to within three, 18-15.  Lourdes would not allow the Trojans to get any closer though, taking set one.
 
Taylor (0-1) built the early lead in the second, scoring seven of the first nine points.  Lourdes responded with an 8-2 run to pull in front 13-12, and eventually opened up an 18-14 advantage.  The Trojans scored seven of the next eight points to retake the lead 21-19, but four consecutive Gray Wolf points put the hosts in front for good, giving Lourdes a 2-0 edge in the match.  Emily Drenth (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South H.S.) put down six kills in the stanza.
 
In the third, Taylor limited Lourdes to just .022 hitting to extend the contest.  The Trojans jumped out to a 9-1 lead and never allowed the Gray Wolves to battle back, putting down 15 kills in the set.
 
Lourdes pulled away in the fourth, a set that was close until late.  The Gray Wolves led just 19-18 before scoring three straight points to secure the victory.  Lourdes hit .282 in the stanza, its best offensive showing of the night.  Roberson had six kills in the final frame.
 
Drenth led Lourdes with 18 kills and hit .226 in her Gray Wolf debut while Roberson added 14 kills.  Carol Goncalves (Brazilia, Brazil/Sagrado Corcacao de Maria H.S.) handed out 37 assists for an offense that hit .155 for the match, but also added 14 digs defensively.
 
Niki Polce (New Boston, Mich./Huron H.S.) led all Gray Wolves with 23 digs while Angelica Dippold (Louisville, Ky./Mercy Academy) tallied 18 more.  Monique Oliveira (Rio Branco, Brazil/Americo Rene Giannetti H.S.) tallied 17 more digs as Lourdes held an 88-78 edge in that statistical category.  Evan Matheson (Fallon, Nev./Churchill County H.S.) led the Gray Wolves in the net, as she was involved in four of the team's six blocks.
 
Addy Bailey led Taylor with 14 kills while Samantha Korn tallied 24 digs.  Haley Harrell handed out 44 assists as the Trojans hit .186 as a team, while also adding 19 digs.
 
Lourdes (1-0) picked up a season-opening victory for the sixth time in the program's nine years.  The team will return to the court on Saturday to close out play in the Gray Wolf Invitational.  Lourdes will battle Indiana-South Bend at 12:30 p.m. before facing Coastal Georgia at 5:30 p.m.