WINONA, Minn. – The Warriors looked out of sync Friday night in a battle of Top 25 teams that saw Winona State fall in four sets. It was a different story on Saturday afternoon though as the No. 19-ranked team in the country outlasted Augustana University in five sets inside McCown Gymnasium.
The Warriors dug deep for their fourth five-set win of the season by scores of 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 19-25, 15-9.
Sophomore Paige Christopher and junior Megan Flom gave the Homecoming crowd of nearly 1,000 plenty to cheer about as the duo combined for 44 of the Warriors' 71 kills. Christopher set a new career high with 19 kills and Flom matched her career-best with 25.
Christopher jumpstarted the raucous crowd with seven kills in set two after the Warriors dropped the opening game. With the sophomore flying high offensively, the Winona State defense stepped up big late to seal the victory. Augustana pulled back to within one of the lead at 23-22 but was denied on a block by Madison Larson and Madison Rizner. On the very next point, Flom and Kate Masberg teamed up for one final block to seal the win.
Flom then took her turn offensively in set three, stepping up with seven kills of her own to give WSU a 2-1 match lead.
After winning the opening set, Augustana led to the midway point in set two before Christopher and the Warriors got hot and pulled away late. Down 2-1, the Vikings would not be turned away so easily and pushed the match to a decisive fifth set.
With the crowd on their side, the Warriors pulled out to a 10-3 lead in set five. Winona State hit .579 in the final game and recorded 10 kills on its first 12 swings. Christopher and Flom were at the center of the action once again, combing for nine kills in the final set.
The defense totaled eight blocks in the win, including two in set five. Flom and Rizner recorded four blocks apiece. The Warriors also recorded a season-high 86 digs in perhaps their most thrilling match of the season that featured one extended rally after the next. Four Warriors totaled at least 10 digs with Becca Pagel posting a season-high 28.
Bre Maloney set the offense to a .288 attacking percentage with a career-best 58 assists. The junior also recorded two block assists, three kills and 15 digs.
Winona State improves to 13-3 (5-3 NSIC) with the pivotal conference triumph while Augustana falls to 11-6 (4-4 NSIC).
The Warriors will have a few days off before facing their next, and perhaps toughest test of the season, when No. 7 Concordia, St. Paul comes to town on Tuesday, October 15. First serve is set for 2 pm. in Winona.
