SANDUSKY, Ohio -- The Grove City College women's volleyball team concluded the opening weekend of the 2024 season Saturday by splitting a pair of five-set matches at the Great Lakes Crossover, hosted by Heidelberg University at Cedar Point.

Grove City (2-2) dropped Saturday's opener to Manchester, 17-25, 21-25, 25-14, 25-15, 15-11. However, the Wolverines rebounded for a 3-2 win over Heidelberg, 19-25, 25-22, 25-14, 19-25, 15-12.

Grove City trailed 9-7 in the fifth set against Heidelberg but rallied for the win. Sophomore Lily Lagaras (Crofton, Md./Crofton) served consecutive aces to give Grove City a 12-10 lead. Junior Lila Stonehouse (Hatboro, Pa./Abington) later clinched the win with back-to-back kills.

Sophomore Alayna Dorst (Middletown, Del./Middletown) pounded out a season-high 14 kills against Heidelberg while Lagaras had 11 kills. Sophomore Kendra Klusch (Alliance, Ohio/Homeschooled) chipped in eight kills. 

Lagaras served four aces while senior setter Kennedy Kerr (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) and sophomore libero Julia Fisher (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) both had two aces. Kerr recorded 26 assists and sophomore Sarah Harris (Lebanon, Ohio/Mars Hill) contributed 14 assists. 

Klusch led the defense with four blocks. Fisher paced the Wolverines with 19 digs. Lagaras recorded 15 digs while Dorst had 14 digs. Kerr contributed a dozen digs. 

Dorst and sophomore Alexis Standford (Walkersville, Md./New Life Christian) both tallied nine kills in the opener. Lagaras added eight kills and Stonehouse secured six kills against Manchester. Junior setter Brooklyn Wirebaugh (Medina, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) recorded 12 assists. Kerr added 11 assists. 

Fisher served four of the team's 12 aces. Kerr, Klusch, Lagaras and Wirebaugh all had two aces. 

Klusch, Standford and junior Kyla Campbell (Altoona, Pa./Glendale) each collected two blocks. Fisher posted a season-best 23 digs while Dorst delivered 13 digs. Lagaras added 10 digs. 

Grove City returns to action next Friday and Saturday with three matches at Oberlin College. The Wolverines face Wooster and John Carroll in Friday's action, then will play Alma at 11 a.m. next Saturday.