WINONA, Minn. --- The Winona State volleyball team battled throughout four sets against Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday afternoon at McCown Gymnasium, claiming the third set before the Mustangs secured a 3-1 victory.
The Mustangs took the match by scores of 25-12, 25-19, 19-25 and 25-14. Winona State moved to 2-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Southwest Minnesota State improved to 7-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
The Warriors finished with 52 kills on 156 attacks while hitting .231 as a team. Winona State also recorded 45 assists, nine service aces, 64 digs and two team blocks.
Abby Ongna led the Warriors with 18 kills and a .371 hitting percentage, while
Zoe Haan added 17 kills and hit .220.
Hailee Peters finished with 30 assists, while
Gracie Clary contributed seven kills and four assists.
Southwest Minnesota State opened the match with a quick 5-1 advantage before Winona State settled in. Ongna provided a pair of early kills, while
Norah Merow added a kill to help the Warriors stay within striking distance. The Mustangs continued to build their lead late and closed the opening set 25-12.
Winona State responded early in the second set, trading points with the Mustangs through the opening stages. Ongna and Haan each delivered kills as the Warriors worked to stay within reach, but Southwest Minnesota State eventually created separation and led 18-12. Winona State continued to battle late, cutting the deficit to 19-23 before the Mustangs closed the set 25-19.
The Warriors found their rhythm in the third set and delivered their strongest offensive performance of the afternoon. Winona State turned an 8-8 tie into a 12-9 advantage behind kills from Ongna and Haan, then extended its lead to 18-15. Haan and Ongna continued to make plays down the stretch as the Warriors finished the set with a 25-19 victory. Winona State hit .350 with 17 kills in the set.
Southwest Minnesota State jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the fourth set and extended its advantage to 13-4. The Warriors continued to compete, with Ongna, Haan and Peters providing kills to keep the offense moving. Winona State trimmed the deficit to 13-19, but the Mustangs regained control and closed the match with a 25-14 fourth-set victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- SMSU defeated WSU 3-1 (25-12, 25-19, 19-25, 25-14)
- Abby Ongna led Winona State with 18 kills and hit .371.
- Zoe Haan recorded 17 kills and added nine digs.
- Hailee Peters posted a team-high 30 assists.
- Gracie Clary finished with seven kills and four assists.
- Winona State totaled 52 kills, 45 assists, nine service aces and 64 digs.
- The Warriors hit .231 as a team.
- Winona State hit .350 in the third set, its highest attacking percentage of the match.
- The Warriors recorded 17 kills in the third set while holding Southwest Minnesota State to a .150 hitting percentage.
- Winona State had nine service aces, led by two each from Peters and Sophia Armstrong.
NEWS & NOTES
- Winona State fell to 2-6 on the year with a 1-1 record in the NSIC
- No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State improved to 7-2 on the year with a 1-1 record in NSIC play
- SMSU now leads the all-time series 68-25-1
- This marks the second game of the season where the Warriors have taken at least one set off a AVCA nationally ranked opponent
UP NEXT
Winona State will go on the road next weekend, traveling to No. 2 Wayne State on Friday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m., before heading north to Sioux Falls to take on Augustana on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 5 p.m.
Stay connected with Winona State University Athletics all season long — follow the Warriors on social media at @WinonaStateATH (X/Instagram), @winonastatewarriors (YouTube) and Winona State Warrior Athletics (Facebook). Catch full schedules, scores and stories at winonastatewarriors.com.
