The 14
th-ranked Wayne State volleyball team came back for a reverse sweep at home against the #16 ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Friday evening in Rice Auditorium. Scores through the five-set thriller were 23-25, 25-27, 25-19, 27-25 and 15-11 in the fifth set. Wayne State improved to 10-2 and 4-0 in the NSIC while UMD drops to 10-1 and 3-1 in conference play.
Set one was a battle back and forth between the two ranked squads with the biggest lead being 14-11 in UMD's favor. The score was tied up 10 times before UMD was able to put away the first set with Kylie Broten kill and a service ace. The Bulldogs came out on top 25-23 recording 23 kills with a .383 hitting percentage.
Chloe Hanel led the 'Cats with 8 kills in set one.
UMD built a seven-point lead over the Wildcats, 20-13 in the second set. Wayne State would go on a 6-0 run to cut it to a one-point match and then tie it up at 25 a piece from a kill from sophomore setter
Molly Romano. Once again, the Bulldogs would close out the set with a pair of kills from Mollie Rupp and Xada Johnson. Three 'Cats-
Delaney Miller,
Channatee Robles and Hanel-had four kills in the second set.
Wayne State would bounce back in a big way in the third, defeating UMD 25-19 in the third set even after trailing 4-0 in the beginning of the set. UMD tied up the score 15 all before the Wildcats took command and went on a 10-4 run to close out the set. WSC controlled the set with 19 kills and a pair of solo blocks from
Laney Kathol and Hanel. Romano and Miller would lead WSC with five kills each in the set.
WSC would have a four-point lead several times throughout the fourth set before UMD would cut it close. The Bulldogs used three kills and a pair of aces from Johnson to take a 20-18 lead late in the set. UMD had match point at 24-22 before a pair of kills from freshman
Mattie Kamery and Miller would knot up the score at 24. A Wildcat service error gave UMD their second match point before another Miller kill and a pair of attack errors would give the Wildcats the tying set.
Set five was all Wayne State as they led throughout the set.
Chloe Hanel would hit a perfect five for five in the fifth set to lead WSC. Wayne State would hold on in the reverse sweep and take down the #16 Bulldogs.
Hanel led the team with a career high 24 kills while hitting .590 to go along with her five blocks.
Molly Romano set a new career best with 60 assists in the match and
Anna Borner added another career best with 25 digs. Miller's 19 kills would be a new best as well for the freshman.
The 'Cats are home again Saturday afternoon hosting Bemidji State in Rice Auditorium at 5 p.m.
