#2 Wayne State rallied from a slow start and one-set deficit to win at Augustana Thursday evening in Northern Sun Conference volleyball played at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Scores of the match were 18-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-17. WSC improves to 13-1 and 5-0 in the NSIC while the host Vikings drop to 8-5 and 2-3 in league play.
The Wildcats started slowly in the first set as the host Vikings used 18 kills and a .357 hitting percentage to surge late and pull away from WSC for a 25-18 opening set win.
Sophomore outside hitter
Delaney Miller had five kills for WSC to open the match.
Wayne State bounced back in the second hit with some strong hitting of their own, producing 18 kills and just one error for a .459 hitting percentage, as the 'Cats never trailed in the dominating 25-14 second set victory.
Channatee Robles led a balanced Wildcat attack at the net with five kills while
Chloe Hanel added four along with a pair of blocks.
The third set saw WSC take an early lead, only to watch Augustana rally in the middle of the set to take a 15-13 lead. But the Wildcats scored six of the next seven points to take the lead for good at 19-16 and Wayne State ended the set with a 25-21 win.
Miller had the hot hand for the 'Cats in the set with six kills followed by
Mia Berg and Robles with four apiece.
In the fourth set, Wayne State forced seven Augustana attack errors as the Wildcats completed the victory with a 25-17 set win.
Miller accounted for four kills in the set with Hanel adding three while
Anna Borner and Robles each recorded service aces for WSC.
Wayne State ended the match hitting .285 compared to Augustana's .216. Both teams had 57 kills, but Augustana had seven more attack errors to go with 16 more attacks. The 'Cats held a 77-72 edge in digs and out-blocked the Vikings 9-4. WSC had five service aces and just three errors compared to Augustana's two aces and seven errors.
Miller had 18 kills to pace Wayne State in the win while Hanel and Robles each recorded 11 kills. Hanel tied a season-high with five blocks while Robles accounted for blocks. Robles notched a team-high 18 digs to record her fourth double-double of the year with
Mattie Kamery accounting for 15 digs and defensive specialist
Reese Johnson chipping in 12. Borner had two of Wayne State's five service aces while junior setter
Molly Romano was credited with 45 set assists.
The Wildcats will be at home Saturday afternoon hosting the University of Sioux Falls in an NSIC match beginning at 1 p.m. in Rice Arena.
