PAINESVILLE, OHIO - A big rally in its final match gave the Lake Erie College volleyball team a split of its contests on the second and final day of the Davis & Elkins Senator Spikefest Saturday (Sept. 5) and a 3-1 overall record at the event.

The Storm (6-3) rallied from a 2-1 deficit against West Virginia Wesleyan College to take the final two sets and the match 3-2 (17-25, 25-23, 15-25, 25-22, 15-7). Freshman hitter Mary Walter (Solon, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) led the attack with five kills and five service aces while sophomore Krista O'Connor (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) set up the offense with 19 assists.

On defense sophomore Brittany Raggets (Eastlake, Ohio/Villa Angela St. Joseph) had 26 digs while junior Rachel Riley (Galloway, Ohio/Westland) totaled five blocks. Sophomores Michelle Naab (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton), Bridget Beury (Amherst, Ohio/Amherst Steele) and Rachel Smallwood (Carlisle, Ohio/Carlisle) each had four blocks.   

 Earlier in the day, the Storm dropped a three-set match to West Liberty, despite a total of just six points separating the teams (25-27, 23-25, 23-25). Despite the loss, sophomore right side Michelle Naab (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) led the way with nine kills, with several off sets from classmate and former high school teammate Krista O'Connor (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) who had 16 assists. Senior Katie Yanesh (Wickliffe, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) led the defensive effort with 16 digs.

The Storm returns to the court on Tuesday night, Sept. 8, at Gannon University. Lake Erie hosts Malone University on Wednesday night, Sept. 9, in the home opener at Athletic Center Arena at 7 p.m.