Sophomore middle blocker Jaci Brahmer had a team-high 12 kills with no errors and a .706 attack percentage to go with six blocks in leading Wayne State College past St. Cloud State 25-20, 25-19, 25-19 Friday in Northern Sun Conference volleyball played in St. Cloud, Minn.
The first set was a close battle early with 10 ties and five lead changes until a late Wildcat surge gave Wayne State the opening set. SCSU held a 15-13 lead, but WSC reeled off six straight points capped by a Morgan Alexander service ace that put the ‘Cats in front for good at 19-15. The Wildcats forced 10 Husky attack errors in the set and finished with 10 kills and no attack errors.
Wayne State cruised in the second set, building early leads of 6-1 and 10-2. Brahmer had four kills and two blocks while Tarrin Beller and Alyssa Ballenger both recorded service aces in the set as Wayne State held the Huskies to an .085 attack percentage forcing eight more errors.
St. Cloud State led the first part of the third set, leading 11-8 and 13-11 before Wayne State caught fire to close out the sweep. Kills by Maddie Knobbe and Brahmer tied the score at 13-13 and another ace from Alexander gave the Wildcats the lead for good at 14-13. Consecutive Wildcat blocks put Wayne State in front 16-13 and the Huskies were never in it after that.
Brahmer paced Wayne State with her 12 kills on 17 attacks and no errors for a .706 attack percentage. She also led in blocks with six. Ballenger followed with six kills while Beller, Knobbe and Katie Stephens each had five Kauth led the Wildcats with 17 digs followed by Maddie Duffy with 12 and Alexander with 10. Alexander and Ballenger each recorded two service aces while senior setter Megan Gebhardt handed out 27 set assists.
Wayne State (13-4, 5-3 NSIC) will play again Saturday afternoon with a 4 p.m. contest at fifth-ranked Minnesota Duluth.
