ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Winona State University volleyball team faced a nationally-ranked opponent for the second time in two days, facing off with host No. 7 St. Cloud State University on Saturday, Oct. 8 in the back half of an up-north NSIC weekend for the Warriors having played at Minnesota Duluth on Friday.
 
WSU started strong, dropping the Huskies in set one 25-21, but the Warriors saw SCSU pull away after that, dealing Winona State a 3-1 setback.
 
In set one, the Warriors raced out to a 3-0 start and then won the final four points of the frame to break a 21-21 deadlock, taking the opening set, 25-21.
 
However, the host Huskies rebounded to win a closely contested second set, 25-22. Winona State had battled back to within two at 18-16 SCSU, but the home side reeled off seven straight points to pull away.
 
Sets three and four went the way of the Huskies, 25-17 and 25-16, respectively, closing out the loss for Winona State.
 
WSU was led in attack by Sidney Paulson with 17 kills and Madison Larson added 12. Larson finished with an impressive .333 hitting percentage and Jaci Winchell had 40 assists in the contest. Rylee Vaughn, Kylie Welch and Paulson all had service aces.
 
Defensively, Casey Volkmann led the Warriors with 16 digs, while Vaughn added 12 digs to the WSU effort. Paulson had four blocks while Taylor Pagel and Mikenna Joerger both had four apiece.
 
Winona State (9-9, 5-6 NSIC) will return to McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court next weekend, hosting the University of Minnesota Crookston of Friday, Oct. 14 and Bemidji State University on Saturday, Oct. 15. The Warriors will face the Golden Eagles at 6 pm and take on the Beavers at 2 pm.