Redshirt freshman Jaci Brahmer matched a season-high with 16 kills while hitting .517 for the match to power 22nd ranked Wayne State College in a 25-16, 25-19, 25-16 Northern Sun Conference volleyball win over Minnesota Crookston Friday evening at Rice Auditorium.
Wayne State never trailed in the first set, jumping to an early 8-1 lead to force a UMC timeout. Brahmer and Erin Gross each recorded six kills in the first set.
The second set was much tighter, featuring 13 ties and six lead changes. Wayne State closed the set strong scoring seven of the final eight points for the 2-0 advantage. Brahmer and Gross paved the way again for the Wildcats in the set with five kills apiece.
The Wildcats pulled away in the third set as Wayne State scored 13 of the last 18 points to complete the sweep. Wayne State forced Crookston into nine attack errors in the set and saw all six starters record kills in the third set win, led by Brahmer with five more kills on 10 attempts.
Brahmer led WSC with 16 kills and a .517 attack percentage followed by Gross with 12 kills and a .344 attack percentage. Brahmer had four blocks followed by Gross, Tarrin Beller and Katie Stephens with three each. Megan Gebhardt handed out 40 set assists while libero Haley Kauth and Alyssa Ballenger each produced 19 digs followed by Stephens with 13.
The Wildcats (9-6, 3-3 NSIC) will be in action again Saturday, hosting Bemidji State in a 1 p.m. NSIC contest in Rice Auditorium.
