Dillon Hogan/ Winonan
The Winona State University volleyball team wrapped up its regular season with a two-game road trip this past weekend. Matches against the University of Mary and Minot State University gave the Warriors one win and one loss for the weekend finale.
With the conference tournament looming in the foreground, the Warriors were still in a fight for seeding. The upcoming conference tournament was up for grabs with Winona State competing against Southwest Minnesota State University for a No. 4 place seed and a match at home. The matchup earlier in the season between the Winona State and Southwest Minnesota State resulted in the Mustangs sweeping the Warriors 3-0.
With two games remaining in the season, head coach Joe Getzin stressed the importance of these last two matches.
“We’ve improved the last half of the season. We have two road games left, and it is up to us to take care of business,” Getzin said. “We need to finish on a strong note.”
Before the conference tournament can begin the Warriors had to finish off their regular season.
The first match of the final regular season weekend paired the Warriors against the University of Mary. The Warriors pulled off the 3-1 match win against the Marauders. In the match, Danielle Rampart had a match-high 23 kills with a hitting percentage of .391. Taylor Goar recorded a double-double in the match with 13 kills and 14 digs.
Winona State fell to Minot State in the regular season finale, sealing the No. 5 seed for the Warriors in the NSIC tournament.
As a team the Warriors committed 29 errors in four sets as Minot State won the match 3-1. Individually, Goar had another double-double with 16 kills and 18 digs, while McKenna Larsen doled out 51 assists and 14 digs.
The Warriors first post-season tournament match comes against none other than Southwest Minnesota State at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11 in Marshall, Minn.
Getzin said the Warriors have improved since the last time they faced Southwest Minnesota and have strong leadership among the upperclassmen.
“I’ve been coaching a long time, and the seniors have to buy in for this to work. The upperclassmen have been phenomenal with leadership, not just on the court but off it as well. This group leads in ways that most people don’t see,” Getzin said. “It’s just another game for them. It gets a little bit different past the first round, but we just have to take care of business.”
The Warriors finished the season with a 19-7 record overall and a 14-6 record in the NSIC.
