SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The hitting trio of Maggie Brahmer, Kelsie Cada and Taya Beller combined for 40 of Wayne State’s 45 kills as the top-ranked Wildcats registered a 25-20, 25-15, 25-23 sweep Thursday evening at Augustana.
Augustana held the advantage early in the first set, but WSC scored four straight points with the Vikings leading 8-7 to take the lead for good in the set. A Cada kill, Beller service ace and two Viking attack errors gave the ‘Cats an 11-8 lead.
The Vikings closed within two several times, including 22-20, but WSC closed the set with a pair of Augustana errors along with a kill from Beller to finish the opening set. Brahmer produced six kills in the first set to pace the ‘Cats followed by Beller with four and Cada three.
Wayne State hit .429 in the second set with 16 kills and just one attack error on 35 attempts. Brahmer had seven kills and a .778 hitting percentage in the set while Beller accounted for six kills. Cada added three service aces in the set.
The third set featured 14 ties and four lead changes, but the Wildcats erased a late deficit by scoring the final three points of the set to complete the sweep. WSC used a kill from Cada, a solo block from Maggie Brahmer gave the ‘Cats match point and Cada capped a hot-hitting set with a kill on match point for the 25-23 win.
Cada had eight kills and no errors on 11 attacks for a .727 hitting percentage in the third set. Brahmer added four kills and a solo block.
Brahmer’s 17 kills led Wayne State in hitting. Cada added 12 kills and three service aces while Beller finished with 11 kills. Senior libero Jordan McCormick accounted for 20 digs while senior setter Rachel Walker was credited with 42 set assists, moving her into third place on the all-time set assists list at Wayne State with 4,153.
The Wildcats (18-1, 9-0 NSIC) will host Minnesota State in an NSIC match on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.
