Box Score #8 Wayne State 3 University of Mary 1

            #8 Wayne State used a balanced attack with four players recording double digit figures in kills as the Wildcats defeated the University of Mary 25-21, 22-25, 25-14, 25-18 in a Northern Sun Conference volleyball match played Saturday afternoon in Bismarck, North Dakota.  The Wildcats improve to 21-6 on the year and 12-6 in the NSIC while the host Marauders fall to 9-18 and 4-14 in league play.
            Saturday's win also marked the 300^th career victory for Wildcat head coach Scott Kneifl, who is 300-101 in his 12^th year as leader of the Wildcat program.
            The Wildcats posted a .545 attack percentage in the first set, recording 13 kills (five by freshman Tarrin Beller) to capture the first set 25-21.
            Mary came storming back in the second set with 18 kills and a .516 attack percentage to edge the 'Cats 25-22 in a set that featured 11 ties and three lead changes to even the match at 1-1.
            Wayne State turned it up defensively in the third set, forcing seven Marauder attack errors, while freshman Haley Kauth produced two service aces to lead the Wildcats in a 25-14 third set win.
            Senior Michaela Mestl had the hot hand for the Wildcats in the fourth set with a team-high six kills to go with a service ace, as the Wildcats finished off the Marauders with a 25-18 fourth set win to take the match 3-1.
            Wayne State hit .328 in the match with 57 kills while Mary recorded a .211 attack percentage with 53 kills.  WSC had one more dig than the Marauders, 59-58, and held a 9-5 advantage in blocks on Mary.
            Junior Erin Gross led a balanced Wildcat hitting attack with 14 kills followed by seniors Michaela Mestl and Alyssa Frauendorfer with 13 kills apiece and freshman Tarrin Beller 10.  Mestl also had a team-high 18 digs for her 11^th double-double of the season. 
            Freshman Haley Kauth was credited with 16 digs while sophomore setter Megan Gebhardt handed out 49 set assists.  Gross and Alex Opperman each recorded five blocks for the 'Cats while Kauth had two service aces.
            The Wildcats close out the regular season at home next weekend hosting MSU Moorhead Friday night at 7 p.m. and #14 Northern State Saturday in a 2 p.m. contest in Rice Auditorium.