KENOSHA, Wis. – The Rangers closed out the 2026 regular season on Saturday afternoon, falling to Wayne State in four sets (19-25, 22-25, 25-19, 22-25). Parkside secured a third-set victory but was unable to force a fifth set. The Rangers will now turn their attention to the GLIAC Tournament, where they will face No. 1 Ferris State in the quarterfinals.
After the teams traded points early in the opening set, Parkside moved from a 7-6 edge to an 11-6 lead behind kills from
Sierra Kilbourn,
Avary Polavin and
Sam Fisch. Wayne St. (MI) answered after the Rangers led 13-7, scoring five straight to get within 13-12, then used Saige Martin's kills during a later push to move in front 16-14. Parkside trailed 20-15 before
Dani Kopacz's kill,
Emily Zaper's ace and
Monica Lukasiewicz's kill cut the margin to 20-18, but Wayne St. (MI) took five of the final six points, closing the set 25-19 on Doga Muhtaroglu's ace.
After an early exchange left the second set tied 6-6, Wayne St. (MI) scored three straight points on a block, a Katie Smith ace and a Lauren Essenpreis kill to move ahead 9-6. Parkside answered with a six-point run, getting an
Emily Zaper ace, kills from Polavin and
Monica Lukasiewicz, and a Lukasiewicz block to take a 12-9 lead. Wayne St. (MI) came back to tie the set at 14-14, moved in front 17-15, and later stretched the margin to 20-16 before kills by Fisch, Zaper and Lukasiewicz brought Parkside within 20-19. Polavin added consecutive kills to cut the deficit to 23-22, but Wayne St. (MI) closed the set with an Essenpreis kill and a block for a 25-22 win.
After Wayne St. (MI) built a 6-3 lead, Parkside answered with a Fisch kill for sideout and four straight points on
Samantha Molenhouse's serve, moving in front 8-6 behind kills from Fisch and
Maia Olson. Wayne St. (MI) tied the set at 8-8 and again at 12-12, but Zaper put Parkside back ahead before two Wayne St. (MI) attack errors pushed the lead to 15-12. The Rangers kept separation with back-to-back Polavin kills and later moved ahead 21-15 on kills from Fisch and Zaper. Wayne St. (MI) cut the margin to 21-18, but Parkside took four of the final five points, closing the set 25-19 on consecutive Zaper kills.
Parkside erased an early 3-1 deficit with kills from Fisch and Lukasiewicz, and
Lauren Peters served an ace to put the Rangers ahead 5-3. Wayne St. (MI) answered to tie the set at 5-5, later moved in front 15-11, and still led 16-12 before a service error, back-to-back Peters aces and a Wayne St. (MI) attack error pulled Parkside even at 16-16. The teams traded points through 18-18 before an attack error and another Lukasiewicz kill gave Parkside a 20-18 lead, but Wayne St. (MI) came back to tie it at 20-20.
Dani Kopacz put down a kill for a 21-20 edge and a Kilbourn-Olson block made it 22-21, but Wayne St. (MI) scored the final four points to take the set 25-22.
Lauren Peters led the Rangers with 18 digs and four service aces, while also adding two assists.
Maia Olson recorded a team-high six blocks, including two solo blocks, along with six kills and 10.0 points.
Avary Polavin led Parkside with 13 kills and 13.5 points, recording at least 13 kills in consecutive matches.
Monica Lukasiewicz added 10 kills with zero errors on 22 attempts for a .455 hitting percentage. She also recorded four blocks, including two solo blocks, and 13.0 points.
Lucy Russ led the Rangers with 29 assists while adding 11 digs.
The Rangers conclude the regular season with a 15-12 overall record and a 7-9 mark in GLIAC play, while the Warriors finish the season at 15-12 overall and 8-8 in conference play.
Up Next
The Rangers will compete against No.1 Ferris State in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament in Big Rapids, Michigan. Game date and time will be announced at a later time.
For all things Parkside Volleyball, including links to live coverage, visit ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
