Junior middle hitter
Maggie Brahmer posted a match-high 15 kills while senior outside hitter
Kelsie Cada added 11 kills and three service aces to lead #1 Wayne State past Bemidji State 25-10, 25-18, 25-17 in Northern Sun Conference volleyball Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. WSC is now 16-1 and 7-0 in the league while BSU drops to 6-9 and 3-4 in NSIC play.
The Wildcats held BSU to a negative hitting percentage (-.051), forcing eight attack errors on the Beavers. WSC built a 14-4 lead and cruised to the 25-10 set win.
Cada had five kills in the opening set while defensive specialist
Havyn Heinz had a team-high seven digs.
The second set was close until WSC surged late for a 25-18 victory. A Bemidji State service ace pulled the Beavers within one at 15-14, then the 'Cats got a BSU service error,
Jordan McCormick service ace, a block by
Taya Beller and
Taylor Bunjer and a Beller kill followed by a BSU attack error to go in front 20-14.
The 'Cats hit .286 in the set and forced nine more attack errors on Bemidji State highlighted by three blocks. Brahmer and Beller each recorded five kills in the set while Cada had two service aces.
After jumping out to a 7-1 lead in the third set, Bemidji State stayed close to the Wildcats and got within two at 17-15. With WSC holding a 20-17 lead, the 'Cats closed the match with five straight points and got a service ace from
Rachel Walker on match point for the 25-17 win.
Brahmer and Cada had the hot hands for the 'Cats in the third set with seven and six kills respectively while Walker added two service aces.
Wayne State finished the match with a .337 hitting percentage while holding Bemidji State to .090. The 'Cats held a 40-30 advantage in kills and 51-41 edge in digs. WSC had seven service aces to just two for the Beavers and a 6-4 edge in blocks.
Brahmer paced WSC in hitting with 15 kills and a .480 attack percentage. Cada added 11 kills and three service aces. Senior libero
Jordan McCormick had 13 digs with
Havyn Heinz adding 12. Setter
Rachel Walker was credited with 32 set assists and had two aces.
The Wildcats will be at home Saturday afternoon hosting Minnesota Crookston in a 4 p.m. contest.