#2 Wayne State fell to 11
th-ranked St. Cloud State Friday evening in the semi-finals of the Northern Sun Conference Volleyball Tournament in St. Paul, Minnesota by scores of 25-19, 26-24, 25-27, 25-15. The loss by the Wildcats snapped their 14-game win streak, giving WSC a record of 27-4 overall, while St. Cloud State is now 25-6 on the season.
The Wildcats could not overcome a slow start in the first set, down 7-2 and 12-5 early, as the Huskies led from start to finish in a 25-19 opening set win.
Freshman outside hitter
Delaney Miller had seven kills to lead the Wildcats while junior defensive specialist
Reese Johnson had 11 digs in the opening set.
The second set saw the Wildcats hold the lead for a majority of the set, but St. Cloud State rallied from a 21-18 deficit and defeated the 'Cats in extra points 26-24.
WSC held a 21-18 advantage following a
Channatee Robles kill, but the Huskies scored three straight points to even the set at 21-21. The 'Cats then got a block by
Chloe Hanel and
Molly Romano followed by a service ace for a 23-21 lead, but SCSU battled back and won the set from WSC 26-24.
Miller had six more kills in the second set for the 'Cats with Robles adding five and Hanel four.
The third set saw 22 ties and eight lead changes with neither team holding a lead of more than two points.
WSC trailed at the midway point 16-14, but later held a 20-18 lead – their last two-point advantage until set point.
Tied at 25-25, the Wildcats got a kill from freshman
Mattie Kamery followed by a service ace from sophomore libero
Anna Borner to keep the match alive with a 27-25 third set victory.
WSC had 19 kills and hit .340 in the set. Miller had seven kills to pace the 'Cats in the third set with Hanel and Robles each accounting for four.
St. Cloud State used strong hitting in the fourth set and surged late to down the Wildcats 25-15 and take the match 3-1.
The score was tied at 8-8, but the Huskies grabbed the lead for good by scoring six of the next eight points for a 14-10 lead. WSC was within three at 17-14 but could get no closer.
Miller had a team-high four kills to lead the Wildcats in the final set.
SCSU hit .350 in the match to .215 for Wayne State. WSC held a 8-7 edge in blocks and 4-3 in service aces.
Miller had 24 kills to top Wayne State in hitting. Robles added 11 kills with 18 digs for her 14
th double-double of the season while Hanel also had 11 kills.
Reese Johnson finished with a team-high 21 digs while sophomore libero
Anna Borner added 16 and freshman hitter
Mattie Kamery had 11. Setter
Molly Romano was credited with 48 set assists.
Wayne State, ranked second in the final NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, is expected to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament with the selection show taking place Monday evening, November 24
th at 6:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.