Wayne, Neb. — #1 ranked Wayne State recorded 13 blocks, holding #6 Southwest Minnesota State to a .087 hitting percentage, as the Wildcats recorded a 25-16, 25-21, 25-18 sweep over the Mustangs in Northern Sun Conference volleyball played on Black Out Night before a crowd of 865 fans at Rice Auditorium. WSC has now won 17 straight matches and improves to 24-1 and 15-0 in the NSIC while the Mustangs fall to 21-4 and 12-3 in league games.
A tightly contested first set between the two teams saw the Wildcats score 10 of the last 12 points of the set for a 25-16 win.
WSC held a 15-14 lead, then got three straight kills from senior Kelsie Cada to push the lead to 18-14. Another kill by Cada and a Rachel Walker service ace gave the ‘Cats a 20-16 lead and Wayne State reeled off the final five points of the set for a 25-16 win.
Maggie Brahmer had six kills on seven attacks in the opening set followed by Cada and Taya Beller with four kills apiece..
Another scoring run late in the second set separated the Wildcats from the Mustangs as WSC registered a 25-21 second set victory.
With WSC leading 13-12, WSC used three straight SMSU errors to take a 16-12 lead. Two kills by Cada and a Mustang attack error gave the ‘Cats a 19-13 lead forcing a Mustang timeout.
SMSU did close within 23-21, but the ‘Cats closed the set with a Beller kill and block by Cada and Beller to take the second set.
Beller had six kills and four blocks in the set with Cada adding four kills.
The third set saw the Wildcats force 10 SMSU errors with five blocks and Wayne State closed the match with a 25-18 third set win.
WSC trailed 15-14, but used a Rachel Walker kill, SMSU attack error, another Walker kill and Cada kill to grab an 18-15 lead. Following a Mustang point, WSC scored five straight points highlighted by consecutive solo blocks from Taylor Bunjer and Brahmer to take a 23-16 lead and finish the set with a 25-18 win.
Wayne State hit .284 in the match while holding SMSU to .087 by forcing 25 errors on the Mustangs. The ‘Cats held a 55-49 edge in digs and out-blocked SMSU 13-4.
Beller had 12 kills with a .458 hitting percentage and tied a season-high with eight blocks. Cada added 12 kills and 12 digs for her seventh double-double of the season.
Senior libero Jordan McCormick had a team-high 15 digs with defensive specialist Havyn Heinz adding 10.
Walker handed out 32 set assists with eight digs.
The Wildcats will be on the road this weekend for NSIC matches at Minnesota Crookston Friday at 5 p.m. and Bemidji State Saturday at 4 p.m.
