After an easy three-set win on Friday at Minnesota Crookston, the eighth-ranked Wayne State volleyball team suffered an upset at the hands of Bemidji State in NSIC women’s volleyball action over the weekend.
Katie Stephens recorded 15 kills with a .520 attack percentage to lead the Wildcats in an easy 25-14, 25-16, 25-14 sweep at Minnesota Crookston Friday evening.
The first set was close early, but Wayne State scored six straight points to take control of the set after a 10-10 tie. Stephens led the way with five kills while the Wildcats forced six Crookston attack errors to highlight the first-set win.
The Golden Eagles started the second set with a 6-4 advantage, but Wayne State scored 11 of the next 13 points, highlighted by service aces from Rachel Walker and Hope Carter, to take a 15-8 set lead and force a Golden Eagle timeout. Wayne State produced 17 kills in the set as Stephens had the hot hand again for the Wildcats, recording six kills on nine attacks with no errors.
Wayne State had few problems in the third set to complete the sweep. The Wildcats forced six Golden Eagle attack errors that included three blocks. Kelsie Cada had a team-best five kills in the set followed by Stephens with four as the Wildcats hit .429 in the set with 13 kills and just one attack error to complete the sweep.
Stephens paced Wayne State in hitting with 15 kills and a .520 attack percentage, followed by Cada with 10 kills. Jaci Brahmer was credited with three blocks while libero Haley Kauth had a team-high 12 digs with Maddie Duffy adding 10. Rachel Walker was credited with 29 set assists and had two service aces along with Tarrin Beller and Hope Carter.
On Saturday, Bemidji State shocked the Wildcats in four sets, winning 25-18, 6-25, 26-24 and 25-16.
The host Beavers came out strong on the Wildcats in the first set, hitting .394 with 16 kills and just three errors to take the opening set, but Wayne State came storming back in the second set and dominated to tie the match at one set apiece. Wayne State had seven service aces in the set, led by Carter with four, while holding Bemidji State to just five kills and a minus-.125 attack percentage with eight errors.
Bemidji State battled back in a tightly-contested third set that featured 14 ties and five lead changes. Neither team led by more than three points in the set. A Cada kill gave Wayne State a 20-18 lead and forced a Bemidji State timeout. The Wildcats still held a 21-19 lead, but the Beavers rallied and pulled out the third set, then used that momentum to build a 6-0 lead in the final set. Wayne State got as close as 15-14, but the Beavers scored the next five points and put Wayne State away to finish off the four-set upset.
Stephens led Wayne State with 16 kills followed by Brahmer with 10 kills and five blocks. Maddie Knobbe had four blocks, Cada had a team-high 11 digs while Carter had four service aces. Walker was credited with 40 set assists.
Wayne State (18-4, 9-4 NSIC) will be on the road again Thursday evening, facing Augustana in a 6 p.m. contest in Sioux Falls, S.D.
