SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The second-seeded Winona State University volleyball team is set to play No. 6 seed Augustana University in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Volleyball Tournament Semifinals today at 4:30pm.
This is the third time WSU has appeared in the semifinals of the NSIC Volleyball Tournament, and first since 2016. The Warriors are in search of their first-ever tournament championship.
Winona State took down Upper Iowa in the quarterfinals, 3-1. WSU dominated the first two sets before dropping the third, but the Warriors took care of business in the fourth set to advance to the semis.
Augustana University defeated Concordia-St. Paul by a score of 3-1 as well. AU dropped the first set and battled back to win a marathon of a second set, 34-32. The Vikings rode the momentum from an exciting second set to win the next two sets and advance.
The Warriors and Vikings faced off earlier this season, where WSU traveled to AU and won 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-21, 25-14). Winona State was able to force Augustana into 31 attack errors and just a .111 hitting percentage, while hitting for 53 kills ay a percentage of .245 and themselves.
Winona State is led by NSIC Player of the Year,
Megan Flom, who has been a nightmare to other teams hitting at a percentage of .424 and averaging 3.98 kills per set in the conference.
NSIC First Team All-Conference honorees,
Bre Maloney and
Becca Pagel, have been equally as impressive. Maloney has orchestrated a high-powered and effective offense this season, averaging 11.32 assists per set within NSIC play. Pagel has been instrumental for the Warriors defense as she averages a league-leading 5.25 digs per set.
Madison Rizner earned NSIC Second Team All-Conference accolades for her astounding play at the middle hitter position.
Sidney Paulson and
Madison Larson have been consistent weapons from the right side and outside throughout the season, providing a balanced attack for the Warriors as they lead the conference in team kills.
The winner of today's match will take on either top-seeded St. Cloud State or No. 4 seed Wayne State in the finals. The championship match will be Saturday, Nov. 20 at 3pm. All matches are held at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit:
www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and
@WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words:
Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
