FORT WAYNE, Ind. – For the second consecutive year, the Indiana Tech women's volleyball team was crowned the champions of the Liz Lykowski Memorial Tournament, adding a pair of victories Saturday over Spring Arbor, 3-2 (25-21, 15-25, 24-26,  25-18, 15-10) and Trinity International University, 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-21).
 
In the morning contest, the Warriors found themselves gradually pulling ahead in the opening set before an 8-1 run propelled them ahead 17-9, behind an offensive spark of six kills including three from Jordan Aylward. Tech would maintain command of the frame to eventually come out with a 25-21 decision.
 
Set two would show Spring Arbor coming out of the gate quick with a 10-1 run early on. Despite attempts to chip away at their lead, their opponents would keep a tight grip on a double figured lead en route to a 25-15 score to tie the contest at 1-1.
 
Needing an answer from the second set, Tech jumped out 10-7 early on, but it was their opponents who would linger, tying the set score at 16-16 midway. A strong offensive set from Olivia Niekamp kept the Warriors side by side with the Cougars. As the set wound down, a late 3-0 run from the hosts would put the score at 24-24 in a thrilling third frame, but in the end, it was Spring Arbor who fell on the right side of a 26-24 victory.
 
Down 2-1 heading into the fourth, the Orange and Black needed spark to stay alive. Their second 8-1 run of the contest granted them the momentum needed as they would surge ahead 19-12. They held that lead and keep their opponents out of reach to earn the 25-18 decision to force a fifth set.
 
In the decisive final set, Tech ran ahead 8-2 with much assistance from their offensive play. They gradually grew their lead and kept Spring Arbor at a comfortable distance to take the 15-10 advantage and pull out a 3-2 contest victory in the two hour thriller.
 
Niekamp led all players with 18 kills in the contest, with Aylward close behind with 16 of her own. Madison Park recorded 36 assists and Madeline MacDonald finished with a match high 31 digs.
 
In the afternoon slate, Tech took a 13-8 advantage over Trinity International University and grew it to a 20-13 lead as the first set wore on. Their opponents made an attempt to try a late run, but were stopped short on back-back kills from Aylward and Havilyn Cumming to end the set with a 25-20 decision.
 
Opening frame two, the Orange and Black found themselves down 9-6 early on, but a 9-0 run took care of business getting them back on top. Trinity International would have an answer for the Warriors run with a 6-0 streak of their own to put themselves back in the driver's seat at 20-17. The next seven points would be both sides swapping shares of the lead before Tech utilized their opponent's errors to clinch a 25-23 second set victory.
 
Carrying over from the second set, the opening to frame three was a tight match between both squads. Back-to-back kills from Allison Cole helped spark the Warriors on a 6-1 run that would put them out 18-13. That lead would last them through the remainder of the third set and carry them to a 25-21 decision and their third sweep of the weekend.
 
MacDonald finished the contest with 17 digs, while Park concluded with a match-high 20 assists. Niekamp recorded 11 kills and Aylward followed with ten of her own.
 
Niekamp's big weekend earned her Tournament MVP honors while she was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Calista Helinski.
 
The Orange and Black (18-6, 6-4 WHAC) will be back in action Wednesday as they travel to Sylvania, Ohio for a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Contest (WHAC) match-up against Lourdes University with first serve at 7 p.m. from Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.