Wayne State College matched a season-high with 11 service aces as the Wildcats defeated the University of Mary 25-12, 25-11, 25-12 Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. The Wildcats are now 18-6 overall and 10-5 in NSIC play while the visiting Marauders fall to 3-20 and 0-15 in league contests.
Maddie Duffy got Wayne State off to a hot start, serving up three aces in the first five points of the match for a 5-0 Wildcat advantage. Sophomore Alyssa Ballenger served five straight points including a service ace to put the Wildcats up 16-4 as they cruised to the first-set win.
The Wildcats held Mary to a .000 attack percentage in the second set after trailing early in the set 5-3. Morgan Alexander had the hot serving hand for the Wildcats in the set, reeling off six straight points that included a pair of service aces. Wayne State had four blocks in the set while Ballenger had a team-high three kills.
The Wildcats forced another nine attack errors on the Marauders in the third set, highlighted by five blocks, to complete the sweep. Jaci Brahmer and Katie Stephens each had four kills while Megan Gebhardt and Alexander each added a service ace for the Wildcats as all 14 players saw action for Wayne State in the match.
Wayne State finished with a .297 attack percentage, recording 33 kills with just six errors and 91 attacks while Mary ended with 24 kills, 20 errors and 97 attacks for a .041 attack percentage.
Stephens led Wayne State with 12 kills followed by Brahmer with seven. Duffy and Alexander each produced four service aces while junior libero Haley Kauth had 16 digs. Megan Gebhardt handed out 27 set assists while Ballenger and Tarrin Beller each accounted for three blocks.
The Wildcats (18-6, 10-5 NSIC) will be at home again Saturday, hosting Minot State at 1 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.
