GRAND RAPIDS, MI– At the Midwest Invite, UC Santa Cruz Women's Volleyball finished both of their games against Millikin University and Calvin University. The team lost their first match against Millikin 2-3 (24-26, 26-24, 19-25, 25-20, 13-15) and their second match to Calvin 1-3 (23-25, 25-23, 18-25, 13-25).
 
Match One
The Banana Slugs played Millikin University for their first match on Friday.  The first set started with Millikin serving. They were able to get the first point for the set. However, Peyton Tazelaar came in with a beautiful kill (1-1). From there, the Banana Slugs were in the lead by getting back-to-back kills from Kate Lau, Sydney Ahrendt, Ashley Magley, and Tazelaar. Unfortunately, Millikin was able to recover and win the first set 24-26.
 
The second set was an amazing set for the Banana Slugs! Millikin started the game in the lead with a score of 9-4 until Tazelaar switched things around for the women's volleyball team with a beautiful kill with an assist from May Sydney (11-10). From there, the Banana Slugs stayed in the lead and ended the set with a fantastic kill by Tazelaar (26-24).
 
The third set started off strong for the Banana Slugs with high intensity with the score continuing to go back and forth. But it did not end in the Banana Slugs' favor and finished with a score of 19-25 for Millikin. The fourth set was another intense and great set for the Banana Slugs. They stayed in the lead the whole set and dominated. With the help of Drew Bryant, Kelly Ann Greene, and Magley and the outstanding kills they had, the fourth set ended with the Banana Slug team winning 25-20, making it an equal match for both teams.
 
The final and fifth set began with many great plays that helped keep a steady match. It was a very close match with Millikan in the lead and the Slugs were very close. The set ended with Millikin winning the set 13-15.
 
This was a great match for many of the Banana Slugs. Tazelaar had the most total attacks with 47, the most points with 16.5, and the most kills with 14. Ashley Magley had 13 kills, 32 total attacks, and 13 points altogether. Emily Pasion had the team-high in digs with 27, moving to fourth all-time in career digs at UC Santa Cruz with 954. May had a team-high in assists with 24.
 
Match Two
The next match UCSC women's volleyball played was against hosts Calvin University, ranked eighth nationally in Division III.
 
The first set started with Santa Cruz serving. It was a very close set with UC Santa Cruz staying with Calvin, who was in the lead 6-4. Then as the set continued, Calvin continued to get those kills in making the score 9-19. The Banana Slugs came back with kills from Magley, Ahrendt, Tazelaar, and service aces from Pasion helped contribute to the scoreboard and cut the lead to one (23-24). Calvin however, ended up winning that set 23-25.
 
The second set was absolutely intense for the Banana Slugs. It started off being a close set, but then the Banana Slugs gained a big lead with kills from Greene and Magley, and attack errors from Calvin that made it 19-15. The Banana Slugs stayed in the lead this whole set and eventually won with a fast kill by Magley ending the set at 25-23.
 
The third set had quick ball movement for the Banana Slugs. Calvin tried to sneak a tip-in of a ball, but Greene was able to catch it and hit the ball right back with a fantastic kill making the score 15-21. However, Calvin was able to secure a win for this set with a score of 18-25.
 
The fourth set was another close one- with an unexpected change in the playing field when the lights accidentally went out in the gymnasium for a few seconds. However, this last set did not end in the Banana Slugs' favor (13-25) as Calvin closed out the match.
 
Tazelaar again had the most kills with 14 and the most total attacks with 32. Ahrendt had 11 kills while Magley had 9 kills. May and Michaela Augustine both had 20 assists, and Pasion had the team-high in digs with 14.
 
The Banana Slugs will continue this tournament Saturday and play third-ranked nationally Hope College.