LIVONIA, Mich. – The Indiana Tech women's volleyball team took a pair of victories in Saturday's Julie Martin Memorial Classic, hosted by Madonna University, taking down Bethel University (Ind.) 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-20) and Union College (Ky.) 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23) inside the Activities Center.
 
In the first contest, Bethel would stick close with the Orange and Black in the opening set. It would be a quick 4-0 run that would push Tech out 16-12 behind a trio of kills from Calista Helinski and Jordan Aylward. They would continue to add and grow their lead over the Pilots and would utilize a string of errors from their opponents to go on yet another run to close out the first set 25-20.
 
A quick 6-0 lead marked the second frame as Helinski would put on a show, recording four kills during that span. The Warriors would grow a 14-7 lead to a double-figure advantage, 19-8, after Olivia Niekamp came alive with three kills in the 5-0 run. A set dominant in offensive power would close with the 25-12 set victory.
 
Tech would play a back and forth game with the Pilots before utilizing a 4-0 burst to go ahead 13-6. Bethel would attempt to make a the match interesting late, coming within four, 24-20, but a kill from Niekamp would close out the 25-20 set win to complete the match sweep.
 
Niekamp led the Orange and Black with 12 kills, while Madelyn Omo recorded six blocks. Madison Park led all stats with 22 assists and Madeline MacDonald rounded out top performers with 24 digs.  
 
In the second match of the afternoon, the two squads opened the first set staying close with each other before the Warriors used a 5-0 run to jump ahead of Union, 12-8. The Orange and Black would keep a safe distance from their opponents, despite a late run from the Bulldogs that made it a 23-19 score. Tech secured the 25-19 set score on a pair of Bulldog errors.
 
The Warriors would hold the lead through much of the first half of the second set before things would become knotted up at 15. The remainder of the set would be tight as Tech would just barely edge out their opponents with a 4-0 run that wrapped up a 25-20 set victory.
 
Union utilized a 6-0 run early in the third set to gain an 11-6 advantage. Tech would answer back with a run of their own, behind a pair of Aylward kills, to cut the Bulldog's lead down to just two. They continued to grow their lead until the Orange and Black made two late pushes in the match to make it 23-21. Union would get the set victory on a service ace to push the match score to 2-1 in favor of Tech.
 
With things even at 13-13 in set four, the Warriors would use the momentum from a short 3-0 run to gain a more comfortable lead. Union was quick to answer back with a streak of their own to again tie the contest back up at 16. A back and forth battle would ensure, complete with eight lead changes between the two teams until the Orange and Black would capture the final three points to earn a 25-23 set score and the 3-1 match victory.
 
Helinski, Aylward and Havilyn Cummings each recorded 11 kills in the contest. Park again led the match with 29 assists and MacDonald concluded with 22 digs.
 
The Warriors (7-2) will open up Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play Wednesday as they host Lourdes University at the Schaefer Center. First serve is set for 7 p.m.