The #7 Wildcats survived the upset bid by the NSIC fifth place Cougars from the University of Sioux Falls. The teams traded the first four sets, with all wins coming from the north side of the court. WSC would hold off USF to move to 11-2 in conference and 18-4 overall.
The first set featured eight ties and four lead changes between the two teams. USF would have set point, 24-22 before the 'Cats went on a 4-0 run to close out the first set 26-24 off a
Channatee Robles kill, her fourth of the set.
Taya Beller led the offense with her five kills.
The Cougars came out on fire in the second set, taking their biggest lead 15-4. WSC would claw their way back making it 24-20 off a Cougar error. USF would hammer down the 25
th point and take set two.
Brooklyn Kusler had six of the 12 Wayne State kills.
Laney Kathol and Kusler had one block a piece.
WSC jumped out to a 15-10 lead before Sioux Falls stormed back to tie up the score at 20s. A Kusler kill gave the 'Cats a 21-20 lead and a service ace set up the Wildcats for set point that was capped off by a Beller kill.
Fourth set belonged to the Cougars after the overtook the Wildcat 4-1 lead. WSC found themselves trailing 21-14 and were unable to come back. USF had 17 kills in the set compared to WSC's six.
Wayne State took the 3-2 lead off back-to-back kills and never relinquished the lead in the set. The Cougar's called a timeout at 9-6 after a
Maggie Brahmer and Robles double block followed up by a Tayler Bunjer and Brahmer double block. After two straight Cougar points, the Wildcats would jump back in front 12-8 thanks to kills by Brahmer and Kusler and a Cougar attack error. Back-to-back kills by Aubrey Gates brought USF back within one at 12-11. Two kills by Beller and a match-point kill by Kusler would finish off the Cougars.
Kusler led the 'Cats with 21 kills and three blocks. Brahmer and Bunjer had nine and four blocks, respectively in the match. The Wildcats had 25 blocks to go along with seven services aces, highlighted by
Molly Romano's three and 46 assists.
Brooke Peltz's 25 digs would lead the defense followed by Robles' 15.
The Wildcats visit Augustana Tuesday evening in a non-conference match starting at 6 p.m.