WINONA, Minn. – Lauren Kudronowicz set a career mark hitting with an .846 attack percentage on 13 swings, finishing with 11 kills as Winona State (10-0, 1-0 NSIC) swept Minnesota State Mankato (6-3, 0-1 NSIC). The Warriors combined to hit .340 as a team in the 25-14, 25-20, 25-15 NSIC opening victory.
Taylor Goar tied with Kudronowicz in kills with 11. From the service line, Goar led Winona State with three aces.
McKenna Larsen tallied 35 assists as the Warriors racked up 45 kills.
Danielle Rampart was an all-around force once again, finishing with 11 digs and eight kills.
It was all Winona State in the opening set as they leaped to a 16-4 lead. The Warriors never looked back and they would dominate, winning 25-14. Mankato was unable to get anything going offensively as the Warriors held them to -.071 hitting. Three blocks in the set, including a solo block and a block assist by
Maria Wrage set the tone.
The second set was more competitive than the first but the Warriors were still in control for most of the set. The defense played a big role in the second set, tallying 18 digs, led by Larsen's nine. The Warriors had their best hitting set of the night, finishing with a .351 attack percentage and 17 kills.
A 7-0 run early in the third set allowed the Warriors to put the final nail into the Mavericks as they ran away with the set 25-13. Goar had six kills in the final set, while Kudronowicz added five. The defense combined for 19 kills and three blocks in the third.
Danielle Rampart had six digs to fuel the defense.
QUICK HITTERS:
- Four Warriors; Kudronowicz, Rampart, Wrage and Maria Fruechte each had three kills in the opening set.
- Kudronowicz led all Warriors with four block assists.
- The 10-0 start is the second best in school history, two shy of the 12-0 start by the 1987 Warriors.
- The last time the Warriors hit .340 in an NSIC match was against Bemidji State on October 24 of last season.
- Holding the Mavericks to just .054 in the match was the lowest by an NSIC team since St. Cloud State hit -.019 on October 31.
- Thursday was the 13th victory against the Mavericks in 48 matches.
- The Warriors have won three out of the last five matches with the Minnesota State.
Next up is a showdown with the number one team in the land as they travel to Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday afternoon. It is a rematch of the 2015 NSIC Championship.
