#2 Wayne State rallied from a first-set loss to down #17 Minnesota Duluth 23-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 in Northern Sun Conference volleyball Saturday afternoon at Rice Arena in Wayne. The Wildcats move to 21-1 on the season and 13-0 in the NSIC while the visiting Bulldogs are now 16-5 and 9-4 in league play.
The 'Cats started slow in the first set and trailed 10-4 and 15-8 early. WSC got as close as three at 18-15 and 23-20 before falling in the opening set 25-23.
Junior middle hitter
Chloe Hanel had three kills and two blocks for the 'Cats in the opening set.
WSC took an early 9-5 lead in the second set but the Bulldogs scored the next five points to grab a 10-9 advantage. The 'Cats started to roll in the middle part of the set and closed with 17 kills and three service aces to even the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 set win.
Delaney Miller had five kills for WSC with Hanel,
Mattie Kamery and
Channatee Robles each producing four kills. Hanel also had two service aces.
Wayne State never trailed in the third set, but had to fend off a Minnesota Duluth rally to clinch a 25-22 third set win. The 'Cats were ahead 15-9, but saw the Bulldogs score seven of the next eight points to forge a 16-16 tie.
After WSC took a 20-17 lead, UMD battled back for a 21-21 tie. Kills from Kamery and Robles along with a UMD attack error gave WSC a 24-21 lead and the 'Cats closed the set with a block by Hanel and
Molly Romano for a 25-22 set win.
Miller accounted for seven kills in the third set with Robles adding four along with a pair of blocks.
The fourth set saw the 'Cats post a .524 hitting percentage with 14 kills along with four aces including three by Kamery late in the set to finish the match with a 25-16 set victory.
Six different Wildcats had kills in the final set led by Robles with four and
Mia Berg adding three. Kamery had three service aces for the final three points by the Wildcats.
Wayne State finished the match with a .326 hitting percentage with 58 kills, 13 errors and 138 attacks while UMD hit .231 with 54 kills, 24 errors and 130 attacks. The 'Cats held an 11-7 edge in blocks and had nine service aces to six for the Bulldogs.
Miller's 16 kills led the Wildcats at the net followed by a double-double from Robles with 14 kills and 13 digs. Hanel and Kamery each added nine kills while Hanel had a team-high six blocks followed by Kamery and Berg with five apiece.
Defensive specialist
Reese Johnson had 15 digs while setter
Molly Romano handed out 43 set assists.
The Wildcats will close out their five-game home stand Tuesday evening with a non-conference match hosting William Jewell College of Missouri at 6 p.m. in Rice Arena.
