Wayne State College hosted two more NSIC opponents during a series of four straight home matches.
From Rice Auditorium on the campus of Wayne State College, WSC posted a reverse sweep over previously undefeated and then #16 Minnesota Duluth (23-25, 25-27, 25-19, 27-25, 15-11) on Sept. 26 followed by a 3-0 sweep the next night against Bemidji State (25-18, 25-17, 25-13).
Sophomore middle hitter Chloe Hanel (Clarkson) was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week following her performances in three Wildcat home victories.
She recorded an NSIC-best .563 hitting percentage last week averaging 3.82 kills and 1.18 blocks.
Hanel first recorded 11 kills with a scorching .786 hitting percentage and five blocks in a 3-0 sweep on Sept. 23. Next was a career-high 24 kills to go along with five blocks on a .590 attack percentage in Friday’s reverse sweep home. She finished the weekend with seven kills and three blocks (one solo) on Sept. 27.
According to Wayne State Athletics on the season, Hanel leads the Wildcats with a .438 hitting percentage that ranks second in the NSIC. She also leads the ‘Cats in kills per set (3.13) to rank 13th in the league and a team-high 0.90 blocks per set that is 10th in the NSIC.
In the most recent AVCA/TARAFLEX DII Top 25 coaches poll, Wayne State College moved up five more spots to now sit #9. WSC is now receiving 718 points in voting by various DII coaches from across the nation.
Other NSIC rated teams include #11 Concordia-St. Paul (9-3, up two spots); #12 Southwest Minnesota State (10-2, down four spots); #13 St. Cloud State (10-3, up two spots); #15 Minnesota Duluth (11-1 up one spot) and #24 Northern State (9-4, down six spots). Minnesota State-Mankato is receiving votes just outside the top 25.
In the five-set match against UMD, Chloe Hanel (.590) recorded a match-high 24 kills to go along with five blocks (two solo) and two digs as Channatee Robles recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 17 digs to go along with three service aces.
Molly Romano posted a double-double with 60 assists and 12 digs to go along with six kills and a block.
Anna Borner led WSC in digs with 25 while Reese Johnson tacked on 16 digs.
Delaney Miller added 19 kills and two digs, Laney Kathol (seven kills) tallied three blocks (two solo) as Mattie Kamery (nine kills/10 digs) added three blocks.
During the 3-0 Saturday sweep, Miller finished with a team-high 12 kills, three digs and three blocks as Kamery followed with eight kills, 10 digs and block.
Romano finished with 29 assists, four digs, three kills and a block while Borner recorded a team-high 13 digs.
Kathol (three kills) recorded seven blocks (two solo), Hanel (seven kills, two digs) added three blocks (one solo) as Robles (five kills, nine digs) tallied two blocks.
#14 Wayne State College will next host Briar Cliff in a non-conference home outing on Tuesday, September 30 at 6 p.m.
WSC will then travel to Winona State and #11 Concordia-St. Paul on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4 at 6 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively.
