Dillon Hogan/ Winonan
The second to last week of the regular season brought a three-match series for Winona State University’s volleyball team against Upper Iowa University, Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead. The Warriors completed a perfect week against their competitors, sweeping each team 3-0.
This late into the season teams can start to slip, but head coach Joe Getzin said, “The girls are doing a great job, players are responding to the coaches really well and are still working hard. The biggest thing is to stay focused this late in the season. There is still a lot of volleyball to play.”
Starting off the weekend away against Upper Iowa University, the Warriors opened up sweeping the Peacocks with scores of 26-24, 25-22 and 25-18.
In their first set, the Warriors were down 24-23, but a couple of kills partnered with an Upper Iowa error gave the Warriors the 26-24 set win.
The second match had a similar ending for Winona State. After being in control for the first half of the match, an Upper Iowa comeback gave the Peacocks the 22-19 lead. Again, the Warriors had to perform a late game comeback to get their second straight set win.
To finish the match in the third set, the Warriors jumped ahead early to win the set 25-18 and secure a match sweep victory.
Danielle Rampart recorded her 14th double-double of the season with 14 kills and 13 digs. Jamie Cairncross had the match-high dig total with 20, while McKenna Larsen recorded ten digs to go with her 36 assists.
Starting the last home stand of the season, the Warriors began the weekend against Northern State University, a team who swept the Warriors earlier this season.
The first set was back and forth, but a Warrior kill and a Wolves error secured the Warrior win 25-18.
In the second set the Warriors used a late game surge to secure the 25-20 set win and go up 2-0 on Northern State.
To put the game away in the third set the Warriors jumped ahead early, scoring seven of the first eight match points. The Warriors secured the 25-20 set win to sweep Northern State.
Leading the way for the Warriors against the Wolves was Lauren Kudronowicz with 13 digs and a .632 hitting percentage. Taylor Goar was able to record her ninth double-double of the season with ten kills and 11 digs.
The final home game of the season gave the Warriors a complete weekend sweep on senior day.
Against Minnesota State University Moorhead, the Warriors came back in the first set to tie things up at seven apiece. From there Winona State secured an opening set win 25-21.
A 25-14 second set score moved the Warriors into the third set with two wins under their belt. The Warriors fell behind 13-12 in the third set, but after a 9-2 run, Winona State pulled ahead 21-15 and won the set 25-18, securing another 3-0 sweep.
Rampart led the Warrior offense with 14 kills and 16 digs for her 16th double-double of the season.
Winona State is now 18-6 on the season and boasting a 13-5 record in the NSIC with two games remaining.
The Warriors will close out their season with a pair of road matches against the University of Mary and Minot State University on Nov. 7 and 8, respectively.
