FAYETTE, Iowa – The Winona State University volleyball team went 1-1 competing at Upper Iowa on Saturday, September 21. The Warriors were dealt a 3-1 loss to Northwest Missouri State at 11am, but WSU would battle back competing against Upper Iowa for the second time in this early season to win the match 3-0.
Game One: NWMS 3, WSU 1
The Warriors would face off against a tough Northwest Missouri State team in match one for the day. Northwest Missouri State would take set one in a back-and-forth battle losing 23-25. A late Ashlyn Steding service ace and block by Gianna Vollrath and Kenna Kornely would tie the set at 23-23 before Northwest Missouri State would take the final two points. The start of set two would see WSU battle with the Bearcats early before taking a 22-17 lead with a Gianna Vollrath kill. Northwest Missouri State would battle back to tie the set at 23 a piece before Abigail Savatski would get the final two points of the match with a kill and a solo block to take the set 25-23. In the third set, NWMS broke open a 15-17 lead with an 8-0 run, pulling away to claim the set. In the fourth and final set the Warriors and Bearcats would battle neck and neck with Northwest Missouri State taking the match in the set with a 20-25 win. Statistically Sidney Paulson would lead the Warriors with 12 kills, Jaci Winchell led with 24 assists, and Kylie Welch would lead with 20 digs in the match.
Game Two: WSU 3, UIU 0
The Warriors had a quick turnaround playing against a familiar foe in Upper Iowa at 3pm. The Warriors would take and early 1-0 lead against the Peacocks winning 25-18 with the final kill coming from sophomore Kenna Kornely. In set two the Warriors would take and early 10-4 lead with a kill from Jayda Berg. After that Upper Iowa would try to bounce back with a kill by Alexis Moses, but the Warriors would not back down, taking the set 25-18. In the final set of the match the Warriors would not set a lead of more than three points until a kill by Abby Ongna to take an 11-7 lead. Upper Iowa though, would find themselves back in the match and take the lead 20-21 before the Warriors would get two kills from Sidney Paulson to take a 23-21 lead and take the match by a Lydia Lange kill, taking the set and match 25-23.
Winona State (8-4, 1-0 NSIC) are next in action in McCown Gymnasium against the University of Sioux Falls (5-4, 0-1 NISC) on Tuesday, September 24 at 6pm.
