Site: Dearborn, Mich. (UMD Field House)
Event: University of Michigan-Dearborn Early Bird Challenge
Score: Madonna University 3, Notre Dame College 0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-17)
Score: Georgetown College 3, Madonna University 2 (20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-16, 15-10)
Records: MU 3-1; NDC 0-3, GC 4-0
Next MU event: Friday, September 3 -- vs. Lewis-Clark State - Embry-Riddle Labor Day Tournament (Daytona Beach, Fla.), 6pm

NOTRE DAME BOX SCORE | GEORGETOWN BOX SCORE 

LIVONIA, Mich. (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - The No. 21-ranked Madonna University volleyball team split its final two matches of the Early Bird Challenge, downing Notre Dame College 3-0 in the opener and had to battle back from down 2-1 against Georgetown College to force a fifth set before falling 15-10 in the final set to suffer its first loss of the season.

Karie Altman (Taylor, Mich. / St. Frances Cabrini) and Anastasija Seremetjeva (Riga, Latvia / Rigas Secondary School 63) were both named to the all-tournament team following the event.

The Crusaders led from start to finish in all three sets against Notre Dame, including holding a 15-1 edge in set two. Altman led MU with a career-high 18 kills and five block assists. Senior Liz Dempsey (Westland, Mich. / Franklin) added 10 kills and seven digs in the win.

The day's final match was a showdown between the No. 21-ranked Crusaders and the No. 23-ranked and 2009 NAIA runner-up Tigers.

After the first set was tied at 14-all, the Crusaders 9-5 run to force the Tigers into a time out thanks to kills from Altman and Seremetjeva along with blocks from Anastasija Baranovska (Riga, Latvia / Rigas Secondary School 16), Evia Prieditis (Milford, Mich. / Milford), Altman and Dempsey to take the set 25-20.

Georgetown responded with back-to-back set wins to take a 2-1 lead after the third set. MU fell behind 15-3 in set three before rallying to get back to with-in three at 24-21 but could not close the gap any further, falling 25-21.

MU trailed early in set four and rallied to take a 4-3 lead and not look back, evening the match at two sets each and setting up the decisive final set.

With the set tied at five, back-to-back MU blocks made it 7-5 and another Seremetjeva kill made it 8-5 at the turn. The turn proved to be the Crusaders undoing as the Tigers rallied and went on a 10-2 run to take the set 15-10 and the match 3-2.

Dempsey led MU with 18 kills and 22 digs while Seremetjeva and Altman added 16 kills and 14 kills respectively.

MU returns to the court next Friday (Sept. 3) against Lewis-Clark State as part of the Embry-Riddle Labor Day Tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834