Mavericks Fall Short Against #8 Wildcats
MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State volleyball (13-5, 5-5 NSIC) dropped its match against No. 8 Wayne State (16-3, 10-1 NSIC) on Saturday, 3-1. Freshman Avery Klein set a career-high with 16 kills in the match. The New Prague, Minn. native also ended with 16 digs, two block assists and an ace.
The Mavericks looked confident in the early goings of the first set, as the team immediately jumped out to a 7-2 lead thanks to some excellent service from senior libero Ellie Kline who had two aces in the stretch. Wayne State dug into the Maverick lead, cutting the deficit to two. MSU went up 11-7 on a Wildcat service error. The Wildcats proceeded to lock-in, as the away team went on an 8-2 run to go up 15-13, which stole the momentum Minnesota State had garnered early in the set.
Both teams traded scores until Wayne State went on another run, this time a 4-0 dagger that put the Wildcats up 20-15. Maggie Brahmer and Taylor Bunjer combined for two blocks during the run. Despite solid efforts from the Maverick side of the net, the Wildcats stole set one, 25-22.
The Wildcats carried the momentum from the first set to pounce out to a 9-2 lead to start set two. The Mavericks willed their way back into the set, as both teams traded service possession back-and-forth until the score sat at 13-9. Wayne State further expanded its lead, going on another 8-2 run to put the Wildcats up 21-11. A 4-1 run for the Mavericks was no use, as WSC took set two by a score of 25-15.
To begin set three, Minnesota State took an early 5-3 lead, thanks to a block from Kiya Durant and Avery Klein. The lead was given back-and-forth between the two teams, until the Mavericks jumped out to an 11-8 lead after a 4-0 run supplied by two kills from Durant, an ace from Madisen Miller and a bad set from WSC.
Following some volley scoring, the Wildcats overtook the lead with a 4-0 run to go up 14-13. A 3-0 Minnesota State run in response gave the Mavericks the lead back. After some more back-and-forth play, MSU was able to take set three by a score of 25-22. It was an excellent effort from the whole Maverick side of the net. Durant had six kills and a block assist in the third.
Wayne State swept up all the momentum the Mavericks gained with a 6-0 start to the fourth set and expanded its lead to 14-3 quickly. Minnesota State had some success despite the rough start to the set, as a 5-2 run and a 6-1 run put the Maverick deficit at 18-14. The Wildcats went on another 6-0 run to force a match-point and won the match on a kill from Taya Beller. Wayne State won set four 25-15 and simultaneously won the match 3-1.
The Mavericks hit .114 in the match and finished with 49 kills. Minnesota State had eight aces, four more than the Wildcats, 45 assists and 75 digs. Wayne State dominated at the net, ending with nine blocks compared to the Mavericks' four.
Klein ended the match with 16 kills to lead the way for the Mavericks. Graduate senior Emma Loveall had 12 kills. Durant ended with 11 kills and two blocks. Miller led Minnesota State at the service line with four aces and Kline was right behind her with three. Senior setter Brooke Bolwerk had 45 assists, which ties her season-best.
"I think playing teams like Wayne State are an outstanding measuring stick to see where we are as a program," said MSU head coach Corey Phelps. "Teams like that wear you down. We battled a lot of that match, and at times, we lost focus and intention on both sides of the ball. Raising our intention and focus for longer stretches is going to allow us to compete more consistently at a higher level against anyone we play."
Next week, the Mavericks continue the conference season, matching up against NSIC opponents Concordia-St. Paul (13-4, 8-1 NSIC) and Augustana (9-10, 5-5 NSIC). Minnesota State travels to the Twin Cities to take on the Golden Bears on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Mavericks are back in Mankato for the match against the Vikings at 11 a.m. in the Taylor Center.
