Freshman outside hitter Kelsie Cada recorded a match-high 11 kills and three service aces to lead No. 13 Wayne State College to a 25-18, 25-21, 25-20 sweep at 18th-ranked Southwest Minnesota State Tuesday in Marshall, Minn.
The Wildcats set the tone defensively from the start as Wayne State forced five SMSU attack errors with two blocks to an early 7-1 lead in the opening set. The Mustangs rallied and got as close as 16-13, but the Wildcats responded and finished the set by forcing 11 SMSU attack errors (five blocks) in the opening-set win. Katie Stephens led Wayne State with four kills in the opening set, followed by Cada with three.
Wayne State never trailed in the second set, building a 22-13 lead on their way to the 2-0 set advantage. The Wildcats forced nine more Mustang attack errors in the set (five blocks) with Tarrin Beller producing four kills to pave the way for the Wildcats.
Wayne State had to rally in a third set that featured 10 ties and five lead changes. The Wildcats were down 9-6 and scored four straight points that culminated with an ace from Haley Kauth, giving Wayne State a 10-9 lead.
Southwest scored three straight to regain the lead at 12-10, and neither team held a lead of more than two points until the late stages of the set. With the score knotted at 20-20, Wayne State closed out the set, scoring five straight points that were highlighted by back-to-back service aces from Cada to finish the three-set sweep.
Cada accounted for a match-high 11 kills to lead Wayne State, followed by Katie Stephens with seven. Beller and Jaci Brahmer each had five blocks for the Wildcats while Cada had three of Wayne State’s six service aces. Kauth produced 15 digs with Hope Carter adding 10, and Rachel Walker handed out 29 set assists.
The win marked the 15th time in the last 16 years that Wayne State College has won 20 or more matches in a single season.
Wayne State (20-5, 11-5 NSIC) will be on the road again this weekend, visiting Minot State Friday at 6 p.m. and the University of Mary Saturday at 11 a.m.
