#2 Wayne State had just four attack errors and forced host Minnesota State into 15 attack errors that included seven blocks as the Wildcats open Northern Sun Conference volleyball play Friday evening with a 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 victory over the Mavericks at Taylor Center in Mankato, Minnesota. WSC is now 8-1 and 1-0 in the league while MSU drops to 2-7 and 0-1 in the NSIC.
The first set was close early with six ties and three lead changes, but midway through the first set WSC used five straight points that showcased three consecutive kills from sophomore
Delaney Miller giving the 'Cats a comfortable 19-13 lead and finished with a 25-22 set win.
Both teams had stout hitting percentages in the opening set at WSC hit .394 with just one error and 14 kills to go with three aces while MSU hit .375 with 18 kills and three errors.
Miller had six kills in the first set to lead the 'Cats at the net while setter
Molly Romano had a pair of service aces.
WSC got defensive in the second set, forcing 10 Minnesota State attack errors including four blocks, as Wayne State cruised to a 25-16 set win.
The 'Cats had 10 kills in the set to go with four blocks while forcing 10 Maverick errors and a -.050 hitting percentage. Miller and
Mattie Kamery each had three kills while libero
Anna Borner notched seven digs.
The third set saw more stellar hitting from both sides, but Wayne State was just a notch better than the Mavericks with 18 kills and no errors on 43 attacks for a .419 hitting percentage as the Wildcats closed out the match with another 25-16 set win.
Junior
Chloe Hanel led a balanced hitting attack in the final set with five kills while
Channatee Robles chipped in four. Borner accounted for a pair of service aces.
For the match, Wayne State hit .349 with 42 kills and just four errors on 109 attacks while MSU had a .216 percentage with 42 kills and 15 errors on 125 attacks. WSC had six aces to just two by MSU while the Mavericks had 10 service errors in the contest.
Miller led the 'Cats with 12 kills followed by Hanel with nine and Robles and Kamery with six apiece.
Mia Berg and Kamery each recorded four blocks while Romano and Borner had two service aces. Borner led WSC with 16 digs followed by Robles with 15 and
Reese Johnson recording 13. Romano handed out 32 set assists.
The Wildcats are on the road again Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. NSIC contest at #8 St. Cloud State.
