ADRIAN, Mich. -- Madonna volleyball head coach Jerry Abraham earned his 800th win on Tuesday evening after the Crusaders defeated Siena Heights, 3-1, by scores of 32-30, 29-31, 30-14 and 30-10 in Adrian.

Abraham, who is in his 20th season with the Madonna volleyball team, becomes the second NAIA coach to ever reach the 800-win milestone.  Mount Vernon Nazarene head coach Paul Swanson won his 800th game on Oct. 7 and currently has 803 wins to lead all NAIA coaches.

The 10th-ranked Crusaders (29-2) started slow against the Saints (7-19), splitting the first two games.  Madonna gained control of the match in the third game with a 30-14 decision and then finished off the match with a 30-10 win in game four.

Sophomore outside hitter Lubovj Tihomirova (Riga, Latvia/Rigas Gymnasia HS) recorded 18 kills to lead the Crusaders offensively.  Seniors Caryn Inman (Oxford, Mich./Oxford HS) and Heather Spooner (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven HS) each posted double digit kills with 17 and 16 respectively.

Sophomore outside hitter Whitney Fuelling (Milford, Mich./Milford HS) posted the Crusaders first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs.  Fuelling also recorded a game high four service aces.

Freshman Inta Grinvalds (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS) recorded 57 assists and guided the Crusaders offense to a .302 hitting percentage on the night.

Abraham, who has been the head coach of the volleyball team at Madonna since its inception 20 years ago, is just the 10th active volleyball coach to record 800 wins. Tuesday night’s milestone win improved his career record to 800-206, a .795 winning percentage. His teams have won nine consecutive Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) championships, six NAIA Regional titles and made eight NAIA National Tournament appearances, including two trips to the NAIA Final Four.

In 2004, Abraham was inducted into the NAIA and Madonna University Hall-of-Fames. Last season, Abraham was named NAIA Coach of the Year after the Crusaders posted a 48-2 record, including a perfect 44-0 record during the regular season.

This season, the Crusaders are 29-2 overall and ranked 10th in the NAIA. Tuesday’s night’s WHAC win also improves Madonna to 10-0 in conference play.

The Crusaders will return to action on Thursday, Oct. 19 in Dearborn at 7:00 p.m. (ET) to take on Michigan-Dearborn in a WHAC contest.