Dillon Hogan/Winonan

The Winona State University volleyball team played host Homecoming weekend, losing to Augustana 0-3 Friday, Oct. 18, and posting a 3-1 victory over Wayne State Saturday, Oct. 19.

The Warriors hosted Augustana Friday and were defeated after three games. The first game of the match had the Warriors take the early lead until they eventually lost a closely contested match at 25-23.

Again in the second set, the Warriors played to a closely contested match until the end and again found themselves on the losing side 25-22. The third and final match had the Warriors in good position to win until Augustana fought back to take the 25-20 win for the match and sweep.

Senior Katie Froehle completed her ninth double-double this season with 12 kills and 13 digs.

The Warriors also had two players reach double-digit assists with Kayla Uhlenahke recording 16, while Elena Kruesel was right behind with 15.

Defensively, the Warriors were paced by Froehle and Bekah Saugen who each had 13 digs to lead the Warriors. Kathleen Omelina had four total blocks.

Prior to Friday’s game, Froehle said, “Our goal for the rest of the season is to keep on this winning path so we have a shot to make it to the conference tournament.”

“We have a tough road ahead but I think we all are all anxious to get at our next game,” she said.

A huge victory for the Warriors came on Saturday with the 3-1 upset over the No. 15 ranked Wayne State. Things looked rocky for the Warriors in the first game with Wayne State taking the victory 25-20.

The Warriors came alive in the second match using opportune advantages to take an early lead and never give it up en route to the 25-22 win to tie the match at 1-1. The third match was a test for the Warriors who were down 5-0 to start but battled back to tie the game at 11. Down again 21-19, Froehle had three huge aces for the Warriors to give them a lead they would not relinquish, winning 25-23.

In the fourth and final game, the Warriors closed the game 25-18 while recording a .293 hitting percentage to secure the win and the upset over Wayne State.

This win marks the third straight year the Warriors have beaten a ranked Wayne State, beating the 18th ranked team last season and the 10th ranked team in 2011.

A trio of Warriors who recorded double-digit kills paced the Warrior offense. Saugen led the team with 16 while Froehle was right behind with 15, and Rachel Polland rounded things out with 10 kills.

Kruesel led the Warriors in assists with 27, while Kaley Jacobson was not far behind with 22 assists of her own. To go with her 16 digs, Saugen also had a match-high total of 28 digs and was joined by Froehle with 22 digs as well.

The Warriors, now 7-13 overall and 4-7 in the NSIC, continue next week with a match Tuesday, Oct. 22, against Upper Iowa in McCown Gym.

They go on the road to face Northern State and MSU Moorhead Oct. 25 and 26.

Contact Dillon at [email protected]