Redshirt freshmen Maggie Brahmer and Taya Beller combined for 24 kills and a .647 hitting percentage to lead #7 Wayne State College in a 25-14, 25-11, 25-17 Northern Sun Conference volleyball victory at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota Friday evening. WSC is now 11-2 and 5-1 in the NSIC while Mary drops to 3-12 and 0-6 in league games.
For the second straight match, Wayne State held its opponent to a negative hitting percentage as the Wildcat defense forced 24 errors on 23 kills and a -.010 hitting percentage.
The Wildcat never trailed in the opening set in posting a 25-14 set win. Beller pounded six kills on six attempts for a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage followed by Brahmer with four kills on five attacks.
The second set was close early but the ‘Cats scored 12 straight points served by sophomore setter Rachel Walker after trailing 7-6 to take control of the set for a convincing 25-11 set win.
WSC forced eight Marauder attack errors in the set and a -.238 hitting percentage while Brahmer produced five kills on six attacks to lead the Wildcat offensive attack.
The third set was tied at 10-10 until the Wildcats surged late for a 25-17 set win to complete the sweep. Beller (5) and Brahmer (4) combined for nine kills in the set while WSC forced another nine errors on the Marauders.
Wayne State finished the match hitting .273 with 40 kills and 13 errors on 99 attacks while Mary was held to a -.010 percentage with 23 kills, 24 errors and 100 attacks. The ‘Cats held a 49-43 edge in digs and had eight blocks to five for Mary while WSC had one more service ace than the Marauders 3-2.
Brahmer’s 13 kills and .667 hitting percentage led WSC followed by Beller with 11 kills and a .625 percentage. Brahmer also had a team-high five blocks.
Walker was credited with 34 set assists while Kelsie Cada had 14 digs with Jessie Brandl adding 10.
WSC plays again Saturday afternoon in a 2 p.m. contest at Minot State.
