Wayne State junior Katie Stephens recorded a match-high 12 kills to lead the Wildcats in a three-game sweep of Chadron State at Rice Auditorium Tuesday evening, winning 25-11, 25-18, 25-18.
The Wildcats came out attacking early in the first set, taking a 6-2 lead following a Tarrin Beller service ace. Wayne State extended the lead to 11-6 on a kill from Jaci Brahmer and recorded 16 kills and a .424 attack percentage to take the first set.
The second set was much closer with WSC needing a late rally to stave off the Eagles. Wayne State never trailed, but Chadron State rallied to force tie scores at 14-14 and 18-18. Wayne State used a block by Brahmer and Megan Gebhardt and a service ace from Haley Kauth to take a 20-18 lead scored the next five points to close out the second set.
The Wildcats led from start to finish in the third set to complete the sweep. The Wildcats built an 11-5 lead to force a Chadron State timeout and extended the lead to 20-10 before finishing the match and completing the three-game sweep.
Stephens led Wayne State with 12 kills followed by sophomore Beller and Maddie Knobbe with nine apiece. Sophomore Maddie Duffy paced the Wildcats in digs with 15 followed by Kauth and Gebhardt with nine each. Brahmer and Gebhardt each had two blocks.
Wayne State (12-4) returns to Northern Sun Conference play this weekend with a road trip to St. Cloud State Friday at 6 p.m. and a Saturday matchup with No. 5 Minnesota Duluth at 4 p.m.
