WINONA, Minn. – No. 14 Winona State University bounced back from a gut-wrenching loss at home Friday with a straight-set victory over St. Cloud State University at McCown Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors have answered the call in dominant fashion this season after suffering a loss, winning in four of five such instances, and only dropping one set in those wins.
WSU made short work of St. Cloud by set scores of 25-11, 25-22, 25-18.
The Warriors have notched sweeps in six of their last seven matches.
Winona shot out of the gate with a .438 attacking percentage in the opening set, flooring 15 kills while committing just one error. Maria Fruechte led the offensive barrage with four of her eight kills on the day.
On the other side of the net, the Huskies committed six errors while recording just five kills. The Warriors stuffed St. Cloud at the net four times in set one.
The Warriors also recorded four blocks in set two, matching their season high with eight in the match.
The home team found itself trailing in the second set, 18-17, after the Huskies went on a three-point run. That short rally was snuffed out though by the Warriors who rattled off five unanswered points and never trailed again.
A block by Danielle Rampart and Maria Wrage accounted for the final point of the game, dashing the Huskies' hopes of stealing a set heading into the break.
WSU hit just .086 in the second set, but found its offensive rhythm once again in the final game to the tune of a .389 hitting percentage.
Rampart and Wrage matched Fruechte's effort as the trio recorded eight kills apiece in the win. McKenna Larsen chipped in six kills, while Jordan Runge and Lauren Kudronowicz floored five each.
Becca Pagel paced WSU with 13 digs. Meghan Seymour and Sarah Suits also had seven digs from the back row.
Winona State improves to 14-5 (8-3 NSIC) with the sweep and St. Cloud State falls to 12-9 (4-7 NSIC).
The Warriors are back at home next weekend for two more matches. WSU will take on No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State on Friday at 7 p.m. to open Homecoming weekend.
