#1 Wayne State built a 2-0 lead, then held off Northern State in a five-set marathon in Northern Sun Conference volleyball Friday evening in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  Scores of the match were 28-26, 25-20, 20-25, 21-25, 15-12.  The Wildcats remain unbeaten in NSIC play at 11-0 and are now 20-1 on the season while Northern State slips to 15-5 and 7-4 in league play.
            The match featured 48 ties and 21 lead changes between the two teams.
            The first set alone saw 12 ties and six lead changes as the Wildcats fought off set point to score the final three points of the set for a 28-26 win.  A kill from Norfolk Catholic freshman Channatee Robles, another by Taya Beller and a Northern State attack error gave WSC the win to close the set.
            Kelsie Cada and Beller each had five kills for WSC in the set while Robles and Maggie Brahmer each had three.
            The second set saw WSC score five of the last six points to break away for a 25-20 set win.
            The 'Cats forced 13 attack errors (seven blocks) on the Wolves in the set with a -.043 hitting percentage.  Cada had four kills with Robles and Brahmer each recording three while Beller had four blocks.
            Northern State came back in the third set, holding WSC to a .056 hitting percentage as the Wolves registered a 25-20 set win.
            WSC held a 16-14 lead in the fourth set, but the host Wolves stormed back and forced a fifth set with a 25-21 set win thanks to a .333 hitting percentage with 17 kills.
            The fifth set saw WSC post 12 kills with a match-best .375 hitting percentage as the Wildcats closed out the feisty Wolves by a 15-12 fifth set score.
            Beller had six kills in the final set with Brahmer adding four in a fifth set that saw 11 ties and four lead changes. 
            NSU was in front 9-8, but consecutive kills by Beller gave the 'Cats a 10-9 lead.  Tied at 11-11, WSC got a kill from Brahmer and a solo block by Brahmer to go in front 13-11.  Following a NSU point, the 'Cats used kills from Brahmer and Robles on match point to clinch the 15-12 hard-fought win.
            Both teams had 65 kills in the match.  WSC hit .203 while NSU hit .154.  The 'Cats had one more dig than the Wolves – 98-97 – and one more block than NSU 15-14. 
            Beller matched a career-high with 21 kills to pace Wayne State at the net.  She also had a team-high eight blocks.  Cada recorded 16 kills and 12 digs while Brahmer posted 14 kills and six blocks.  Robles also recorded 10 kills in the win.
            Senior setter Rachel Walker notched her team-high ninth double-double of the season with a career-high 55 assists and 15 digs.
            Senior libero Jordan McCormick accounted for a team-high 22 digs.  Junior defensive specialist Allie Petry added 10.
            The Wildcats will be in action again Saturday afternoon playing at MSU Moorhead in a 1 p.m. contest.