#6 Wayne State recorded 13 blocks in forcing 27 attack errors on #20 Minnesota Duluth as the host Wildcats swept the Bulldogs in Northern Sun Conference volleyball Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. Scores of the match were 25-20, 26-24, 25-21. WSC improves to 14-2 and 8-0 in the NSIC while UMD is 8-7 and 1-6 in league play.
The match was close throughout featuring 34 ties and 10 lead changes in the three sets.
The opening set saw the Wildcats rally from a 16-13 deficit to storm back for a 25-20 set victory. With the score tied at 18-18, the ‘Cats forced three straight Bulldog errors followed by kills from Brooklyn Kusler and Maggie Brahmer to take a 23-18 lead.
Taya Beller had four kills on five attacks in the opening set for WSC as the ‘Cats notched five blocks. Brahmer and Taylor Bunjer each had three blocks.
The second set was another back-and-forth battle that saw 11 ties and a pair of lead changes as WSC withstood 22 kills by the visiting Bulldogs to edge UMD 26-24.
WSC turned a 14-13 deficit into a 17-14 lead thanks to a pair of Brahmer kills and a solo block and a Bulldog attack error. The ‘Cats held a pair of three-point leads but UMD came back to force ties at 22-22 and again at 24-24 to hold off a pair of WSC set points. Sophomore Channatee Robles then closed the second set with back-to-back kills giving the ‘Cats a 26-24.
Robles had four kills in the set as WSC never had an attack error with 11 kills on 42 swings. Beller and Molly Romano each had three blocks.
Another tightly contested set in the third saw 13 more ties and four lead changes with the Wildcats rallying again to close with a 25-21 win to sweep the match.
The last lead for UMD in the set was 18-17. Tied at 20-20, the ‘Cats used a UMD attack error followed by kills from Beller and Robles to take a 23-20 lead. Kills by Beller and Brahmer closed the set and match with a 25-21 win.
Beller produced eight kills in the third set with a .615 hitting percentage and had three blocks to lead the ‘Cats. Robles and Brahmer each added four kills.
Wayne State finished the match with a .296 hitting percentage while holding UMD to .151. Minnesota Duluth held a 45-38 edge in kills, but WSC forced 27 Bulldog attack errors to just six on the Wildcats. Wayne State held a 13-4 advantage in blocks while UMD was in front 6-1 on service aces.
Beller led Wayne State with 14 kills and seven blocks in the win followed by Robles with 11 kills. Bunjer, Brahmer and Romano each had five blocks for the ‘Cats. Senior libero Brooke Peltz was credited with 12 digs while Romano handed out 31 set assists.
The Wildcats are at home again Saturday afternoon hosting #5 St. Cloud State at 1 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.
