#8 Wayne State used 13 service aces while holding Minot State to a .056 hitting percentage in sweeping the Beavers 25-6, 25-16, 25-9 in the Northern Sun Conference volleyball home opener for the Wildcats Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. The ‘Cats are now 9-2 and 3-0 in the league while Minot State is 1-9 and 0-3 in conference play.
The Wildcats jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the opening set, cruising to a 25-6 first set win. WSC had eight service aces in the opening set while forcing seven Minot State attack errors, holding the Beavers to a -.091 hitting percentage. Channatee Robles posted four kills for the ‘Cats while Brooklyn Kusler notched three service aces.
Minot State battled with the ‘Cats for much of the second set while WSC surged late for a 25-16 set win. With WSC holding a 14-12 lead, the Wildcats used a Roble kill, Minot attack error, a WSC block by Molly Romano and Maggie Brahmer and a service ace by freshman Ava Spies to take control for a 18-12 advantage.
WSC hit .333 in the set with 15 kills to go with three more service aces. Taya Beller recorded five kills with Brahmer and Robles each adding four.
The third set saw the ‘Cats take control early, building a 13-4 lead, enroute to a 25-9 set win to sweep the match.
Brahmer was a perfect 6 for 6 in attacking to lead the Wildcats in kills during the third set. Kusler added five kills while Romano had a pair of service aces.
Wayne State finished the match with a .372 hitting percentage compared to .056 for Minot State. The ‘Cats held a 42-22 advantage in kills, 44-41 in digs and had 13 service aces while recording two blocks.
Brahmer and Robles each recorded 10 kills to lead a balanced hitting attack. Beller and Kusler each had nine kills. Romano and Brahmer each had two blocks while Kusler and Romano each produced three service aces.
Senior libero Brooke Peltz had a team-high 14 digs with Romano handing out 37 set assists.
The Wildcats are at home again Saturday afternoon facing the University of Mary at 1 p.m.
