Wayne State rallied from a 2-1 deficit to outlast Upper Iowa in a five-set Northern Sun Conference thriller Saturday at Rice Auditorium, winning 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-13.
The Wildcats rallied from a 17-14 deficit in the first set to win an opening set that featured five ties and 11 lead changes. With the set tied at 20-20, Morgan Alexander served the final five points for the Wildcats, capping it with a service ace on set point.
Upper Iowa produced 18 kills in the second set while holding the Wildcats to a .098 attack percentage take the second set. The set produced many long rallies with the Peacocks recording 35 digs to Wayne State’s 34.
The third set featured seven lead changes and 12 ties between the two clubs. Wayne State held a 21-20 lead, and with the set tied at 22-22, the Peacocks scored the final three points to take the 2-1 lead.
Wayne State never trailed in the fourth set, taking an early 10-1 and hanging on to force a winner-take-all fifth set. Alyssa Ballenger and Jaci Brahmer each had five kills for the Wildcats in the set.
The fifth set saw Wayne rally from a 9-6 deficit and hold off the Peacocks to take the match. The Wildcats had four blocks in the final set with Stephens recording three kills. Wayne State also forced nine Upper Iowa attack errors in the deciding set, holding the Peacocks to a minus-.067 attack percentage.
Wayne State hit .167 in the match compared to .140 for Upper Iowa. Upper Iowa held a 73-58 edge in kills over the Wildcats, but Wayne STate forced 38 attack errors on the Peacocks that included 15 blocks. The Peacocks had 132 digs to 122 for Wayne State while both teams had seven service aces.
Ballenger had a career-high 17 kills to lead Wayne State followed by Katie Stephens with 15. Brahmer produced 10 blocks in the win followed by Megan Gebhardt with seven.
Haley Kauth had 35 digs, one shy of her career high. Maddie Duffy posted a career-high in digs with 24 along with Hope Carter at 22. Alexander accounted for 12 digs while Megan Gebhardt had a double-double with 45 set assists and 11 digs to go with her seven blocks and a team-high three service aces.
Wayne State (21-7, 12-6 NSIC) will be on the road this weekend, playing at Minnesota State Friday at 6 p.m. and top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul Saturday at 2 p.m.
