LA MIRADA, Calif. – Lady Argo volleyball held the lead halfway through two sets against no. 6 Midland University in the University of Great Fall's first match of the year, but late rallies in each game gave the Warriors a 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-15) win over UGF. Poor hitting and was the week point for the Lady Argos with a team hitting percentage of .014. The match was the first for UGF in the two day, four match 2016 Biola Volleyball/Red Lion-Anaheim Summer Slam.
 
UGF looked understandably rusty through the first few points of their first set of the season, falling into a 4-0 hole. The veteran starting lineup soon found its rhythm, however, climbing back to take a 13-11 lead halfway through the set.
 
The first point of the season was scored by newcomer Mariah Diaz. The junior transfer and JUCO All-American earned a kill off of a pass from junior setter Dani Norling to bring the score to 4-1. An ace and kill each from outside hitters Tymerie Vincelli and Madison Wilhelm helped give UGF the lead but the Midland offense the kicked into gear.
 
A string of MU kills brought the score to a 17-15 Warrior lead. Midland then went on to score the final eight points of the match, the last three of which were off of Lady Argo hitting errors.
 
That was largely the story for the next two sets as well – UGF showing the firepower and defense to play with one of the best teams in the nations for half a game before succumbing to Midland's offense and its own errors down the stretch.
 
"There were some bright spots, but overall there were way too many miscues errors on our part," UGF Head Coach Arunas Duda said. "It definitely looked like our first match of the year against a veteran team."
 
While Midland had the advantage in most statistical categories, UGF was the better defensive team at the net. The Lady Argos finished the match with three blocks to the Warriors one.
 
All three of those blocks included the efforts of junior middle blocker Josee Pendleton who had some exciting moments stepping into the starting lineup for graduated All-Conference middle blocker Devon Bogart. She also finished with two kills off of nine attacking attempts.
 
Unsurprisingly the leader in kill for UGF was Wilhelm, a team's captain and only returning All-Conference player. The senior finished with 7 total points, 5 kills, and 2 service aces, all of which were team highs. Still, she left room for improvement with 4 hitting errors and 1 service error.
 
Behind Wilhelm in points was sophomore outside hitter Korie Milan who finished with 4 kills and 1 block assists. Milan showed rust with 4 hitting errors but that came after an injury kept her on the sidelines for most of the preseason.
 
The team's other captain, senior libero Kennedy Chadwick, led the team with 12 digs and also scored a points for the Lady Argos with an ace. Her and the rest of the UGF backline got a taste of the hitting speed and accuracy of a top team. They'll have plenty of more chances to adjust to that speed with 9 of the team's next 12 opponents either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
Play such a difficult schedule was by design for Duda, who said before leaving for California that this tournament and much of the team's non-conference schedule would be more about the team's development than wins and losses.
 
UGF's next opponent will be one of those ranked teams. The Lady Argos take on no. 16 Westmont University at 5 p.m. MT, on August 18, around 6 hours from the end of the team's match against Midland.
 
All of the 2016 Biola Volleyball/Red Lion-Anaheim Summer Slam can be watched live, with live stats.