WINONA, Minn. – Playing in front of its home crowd inside McCown Gymnasium for the first time this year, (RV) Winona State University surged out to a 14-2 lead over Bemidji State University in set one on Friday night which culminated in a 3-1 match victory for the Warriors. Megan Flom excelled on both sides of the net, recording new season highs in kills (17) and blocks (7).
The win snaps a brief two-game skid for Winona State as the Warriors improve to 9-2 (1-2 NSIC). Bemidji State falls to 3-8 (0-3 NSIC).
Flom was right in the middle of the action for an amped-up Warrior squad in the first set, flooring three kills in the home team's 14-2 run from the opening serve. The junior finished set one with five kills and floored five more in the decisive fourth set.
WSU prevailed by set scores of 25-19, 25-13, 19-25, 25-23.
In the first home match of her promising young career, freshman Madison Larson looked right at home with six kills in the opening set before finishing the match with 10. The rookie added four block assists at the net. Sophomore Madison Rizner also had a standout two-way match with 13 kills and three block assists.
Following the set one win, the Warriors kept their foot on the gas and pulled out to another commanding lead in set two by a count of 20-7. Rizner recorded four kills in the midst of a 6-2 run in that early onslaught.
Defensively, Winona State owned a 65-49 advantage in digs and a 10-8 lead in the blocking column. The 10 blocks match a season high for WSU. The Warriors also matched a season high with seven service aces – led by Kate Masberg (3).
Becca Pagel, who was honored prior to the match for eclipsing 1,000 digs earlier this year, led the back row with 21 digs. Pagel is now just seven digs shy of moving into sole possession of 15th place on the program's all-time charts.
Setter Bre Maloney posted a double-double with 47 assists and 14 digs of her own.
The Warriors return to action and wrap up their current homestand on Saturday afternoon against Minnesota Crookston. First serve is set for 2 p.m.
