NORTH CANTON, Ohio – The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball team opened the 2025 season Friday at the Hall of Fame City Challenge, splitting a pair of matches at Walsh University's Alumni Arena. The Cardinals (1-1) swept Lock Haven University in straight sets before falling in four to California (Pa.).

Match One: SVSU 3, LHU 0

In the opener, SVSU (1-0) controlled play against Lock Haven (0-1), winning 25-18, 26-24, 25-22. Rachel Townsend (Oxford, Mich. / Oxford HS) paced the attack with 12 kills while adding nine digs. Chloe Vanwinkle (Clio, Mich. / Clio HS) followed with 10 kills and three aces for a team-high 17 points. Setter Jackie Scheiber (Wyandotte, Mich. / Riverview Community HS) orchestrated the offense with 33 assists and added two aces and four digs. At the net, Kendall Ihm (Owosso, Mich. / Owosso HS) was dominant with five blocks, while Emily Foster (Ferndale, Mich. / Ferndale HS) chipped in five kills and three blocks. Defensively, Kendall White (DeWitt, Mich. / St. John's HS) anchored the back row with nine digs.

Set One: SVSU 1, Lock Haven 0 (25-18)
The Cardinals jumped in front behind three early service aces from Vanwinkle and Decker. Lock Haven strung along a few points to cut into the lead but an ace for Jackie Scheiber and a kill by Ihm helped put it out of reach.

Set Two: SVSU 2, Lock Haven 0 (26-24)
SVSU and LHU traded leads with the Cardinals using a 7-0 run in the late stages to go ahead. The Bald Eagles knotted the set of 24-24 but back-to-back blocks by Ihm sealed the set.

Set Three: SVSU 3, Lock Haven 0 (25-22)
Townsend and Vanwinkle combined for nine kills in the frame as the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley claimed victory with kills from Townsend and Vanwinkle followed by an ace by Scheiber.

Match Two: SVSU 1, CUP 3

In the afternoon match, SVSU (1-1) fell to California (Pa.) (1-0) with set scores of 25-19, 23-25, 18-25, and 21-25. The Cardinals opened strong, hitting .484 in the first set behind 17 kills, but could not sustain the offensive efficiency. Vanwinkle again led with 15 kills, while Ihm tallied nine kills and two blocks. Townsend added six kills and five digs. Scheiber dished out 45 assists with a kill and two digs. White posted a match-high 23 digs, and Kelsey Foster (Oswego, Ill. / Oswego HS) provided three aces and 10 digs.

Set One: SVSU 1, California (Pa.) 0 (25-19)
The Cardinals rode hot hitting, as Townsend, Vanwinkle, and Decker powered a 17-kill effort with just two errors. A 3-0 and 4-0 run pushed SVSU ahead before taking advantage of attack errors, including a block by Vanwinkle.

Set Two: SVSU 1, California (Pa.) 1 (23-25)
SVSU held the early lead before the Vulcans chipped away, tying the set eight times. The Cardinals could not get more than one point at a time, falling in the closest set of the match.

Set Three: SVSU 1, California (Pa.) 2 (18-25)
The Cardinals got ahead early again before a CUP counter. SVSU brought it to a one-point game when California went on a 6-0 run to apply pressure late.

Set Four: SVSU 1, California (Pa.) 3 (21-25)
Another back-and-forth set as the score stayed within a point or two. However, the Vulcans used a 4-0 and 6-0 run to win the set and match.

Up Next: Saginaw Valley continues play at the Hall of Fame City Challenge on Saturday, September 6, taking on Point Park at 9:00 AM and Walsh at 3:00 PM from Alumni Arena in North Canton, Ohio.