Wayne State forced 21 attack errors and got key points late in the second and third sets as the #2 Wildcats registered a 25-20, 25-21, 26-24 road sweep at #11 Southwest Minnesota State Tuesday evening in Northern Sun Conference volleyball played in Marshall, Minnesota. The 'Cats improve to 15-1 and stay unbeaten in the NSIC with a 7-0 league mark while the host Mustangs slip to 11-3 and 5-2 in league play.
The Wildcats trailed just once in the opening set and collected a 25-20 win despite SMSU having two more kills than WSC (15-13). But Wayne State forced six Mustang errors – three on blocks – and took advantage of four SMSU service errors to win the set.
Sophomore outside hitter
Delaney Miller accounted for five kills in the opening set to lead the 'Cats. Miller and
Chloe Hanel each had two blocks while sophomore
Mattie Kamery posted two service aces.
The second set saw the two teams trade 13 ties and seven lead changes, but WSC scored six of the final seven points in the set after trailing 20-19 to capture a 25-21 set win.
WSC trailed 20-19 after SMSU was awarded a service ace following a Wildcat challenge. The 'Cats then used a SMSU bad set followed by a kill and solo block from
Mia Berg to take a 22-20 lead forcing an SMSU timeout. Kills from Robles and Berg got the 'Cats to set point and Berg capped the scoring run with another solo block for the 25-21 win.
Miller, Kamery and Robles each had three kills for the 'Cats in the second set as WSC forced nine Mustang errors – four on blocks – and limited SMSU to a -.024 hitting percentage.
The third set was close throughout and again, late in the set, the host Mustangs held a slim lead at 21-20 forcing a WSC timeout. Another WSC scoring surge late in the set propelled the Wildcats to a 26-24 win and a sweep of the Top 11 match.
Berg came up big again for the 'Cats late in the third set as WSC used a service error, Mustang bad set and two kills from Berg to get to match point at 24-22. Following two Mustang points to even the set at 24-24, WSC forced a service error and attack error on the Mustangs to clinch the sweep.
Four players – Hanel, Miller, Robles and Berg – each had three kills in the final set while libero
Anna Borner accounted for seven digs.
Wayne State hit .231 for the match compared to SMSU's .140. SMSU held a 39-37 edge in kills, but WSC had just 12 attack errors to 21 by the Mustangs. The 'Cats held a 9-4 lead in blocks and 58-53 advantage in digs. SMSU had seven aces but had 11 serving errors compared to Wayne State's four aces and five serving errors.
Miller's 11 kills led Wayne State in the win. Robles added nine with Berg posting seven kills on 10 swings for a .700 hitting percentage. Berg and Hanel each recorded four blocks while Kamery had two of Wayne State's four service aces.
Junior setter
Molly Romano had a double-double with 35 set assists and 10 digs while defensive specialist
Reese Johnson recorded a team-high 13 digs with Borner adding 10.
The 'Cats are on the road again this weekend with NSIC contests at Northern State Friday at 6 p.m. and the University of Jamestown Saturday in a 1 p.m. match.
