MANKATO, Minn. - The Winona State University volleyball team stepped into the Taylor Center at Minnesota State University Saturday afternoon looking to double-up their NSIC win total after coming off a big win over the University of Sioux Falls on Thursday at home. Taking on any NSIC opponent on the road is a tough task, but Winona State used a dominant set one and set four bookend performance to claim a 3-1 win at Minnesota State.
Winona State (8-1, 2-0 NSIC) began the week in the 'Receiving Votes' section of the AVCA Division II weekly poll and make a case to move into the Top 25 moving forward. Minnesota State falls to 5-5 overall and 0-2 in NSIC action.
KEY DETAILS:
Final Score - Winona State 3, Minnesota State 1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13).
Attendance: 632
HOW IT HAPPENED
Winona State cruised to a set one win, 25-15, as the Warriors hit .368 as a team in the opening frame. WSU notched three blocks and racked up an ace by
to jump out to a 1-0 lead. Jayda Berg and Sidney Paulson collected kills for the 23rd and 24th point, while Jaci Winchell's service ace claimed the set.
Set two saw the two teams reverse trends, as the home side Mavericks found their grove, hitting .300 against WSU and racking up 16 kills, compared to 11 for the Warriors. Winona State hung tough in the second frame with four service aces, one by Rylee Vaughn and three by Kylie Welch . Seven attack errors hampered the Warrior cause as MSU took the set, 25-21.
In set three, WSU earned an early advantage, staking a 10-4 lead early on. However, Minnesota State would battle back to within one at 19-18, but the Warriors would close out the set 25-21 victors. Jayda Berg would claim the final two kills for WSU in the set, with assists from Jaci Winchell and Rylee Vaughn, respectively.
Set four featured a return to form for Winona State, as the Warriors thwarted any hope of a Maverick comeback, winning 25-13. WSU was in control from the outset, at one point owning a 15-4 score advantage. A Kylie Welch ace, followed by kills from Jayda Berg and Gianna Vollrath closed the door on the Mavericks and pushed Winona State to 2-0 in NSIC play.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
With a 25-15 first set and 25-13 fourth set scoreline, WSU came close to matching their impressive 25-9 first set and 25-15 fourth set wins against Northwood earlier this year.
Winona State - Minnesota State has been typically a mid-week match in the NSIC schedule. The last time the two teams tangled on a Saturday was Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, also a 3-1 Warrior win.
WINONA STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Kills: Sidney Paulson, 14; Jayda Berg, 14; Lydia Lange, 10.
Aces: Kylie Welch, 5; Rylee Vaughn, 1; Jaci Winchell, 1.
Blocks: Sidney Paulson, 4; Taylor Pagel, 3; Gianna Vollrath, 2.
Assists: Jaci Winchell, 42; Rylee Vaughn, 4; Kylie Welch, 2.
Digs: Rylee Vaughn, 15; Sidney Paulson, 15; Jaci Winchell, 7.
Minnesota State TOP PERFORMERS
Kiya Durant, 11 Kills
Brooke Bolwerk, 30 Assists
Ellie Kline, 32 Digs
UP NEXT:
Winona State (9-1, 2-0 NSIC) returns home on Thursday, Sept. 21 to host Augustana University. The Warriors and Vikings are set to start at 6 p.m. in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.
