Top-ranked Wayne State set a new school record Friday evening with its’ 17th consecutive victory following a 25-15, 25-15, 25-15 win over Bemidji State at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.
The Wildcats, now 17-0 and 7-0 in the NSIC, eclipsed the previous school record of 16 straight wins set by the 2010 Wildcat team.
WSC never trailed in the entire match against the Beavers. Tied at 5-5 early in the first set, the Wildcats used a BSU service error and attack error and a Taya Beller kill to take the lead for good at 8-5.
Kelsie Cada and Taya Beller each had five kills to leads the Wildcats in the first set as WSC forced eight attack errors on Bemidji State while holding the Beavers to a .028 hitting percentage.
Bemidji State battled with WSC for the first half of the second set until the ‘Cats pulled away. Leading 13-10, WSC used a block by Rachel Walker and Beller and kills from Maggie Brahmer and Cada for a 16-10 lead. Leading 19-15 WSC scored the final six points of the set, highlighted by a pair of service aces from senior libero Jessie Brandl, to take a 2-0 advantage. WSC created seven attack errors on BSU in the second set while Cada recorded four kills.
The final set saw the Wildcat post five service aces while Brahmer had six kills on six attempts as Wayne State closed out the easy three-set win. Brandl and sophomore Brooke Peltz each served up two aces in the third set while Beller and Jordan McCormick each posted solo blocks.
Cada led WSC in kills with 12 followed by Brahmer with 11. Brandl accounted for 10 digs while setter Rachel Walker was credited with 32 assists. Brandl ended the match with four service aces while Peltz had three.
The Wildcats will be at home again Saturday, hosting Minnesota Crookston at 1 p.m.
