GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Indiana Tech volleyball team kicked off the first day at the Panther Invitational at Davenport University on Friday, going 2-0 with a game one victory over Saint Xavier, 25-15, 25-13, 25-21, and a game two thriller over Olivet Nazarene, 24-26, 25-21, 18-25, 25-20, 15-9.
 
Cassie Sarabia and Paige Doellman led the Orange in Black in kills with game-highs of 11 and 10, respectively, while Sarabia and Haley Paonessa came out ahead for the Warriors in digs, each with 10. Autumn Stokes concluded game one, dishing out 17 assists with teammate Karli Jones following behind with 15.
 
Indiana Tech was caught in a back and forth battle in set one before taking small leads that added up to taking the first set advantage 25-15. The Warriors continued strong play into the second set, surrendering only two early ties and not dropping their lead the remainder of play for the set.
After opening the final set with a 9-0 run, Tech was able to stop the Cougars late attempt to come back and take the match on a 25-21 set victory.
 
Sarabia continued her streak leading the Warriors in kills with a game-high 20 in game two while Doellman followed with 13 of her own. Jones and Stokes finished their nights dishing out 27 and 25 assists, respectively and Taylor Kelso rounded out the leaders for Tech with 34 digs.
 
The Orange and Black fell on the wrong side of a tightly contested first set, before compiling a comeback on a late 7-1 run to take set two, 25-21. Despite dropping set three in a close contest, the Warriors bounced back behind a 10-2 run to even the game field at 2-2 and would eventually carry the late momentum into the final set to limit the Tigers to just nine fifth set points in the 15-9 victory.
 
Tech (12-5) will be back in action on Saturday for the final day of the Panther Invitational with a 10 a.m. match against Cardinal Stritch University and a 2:30 p.m. first serve against Trinity Christian College, with both matches at Davenport University Student Center.