The Winona State University volleyball team won all four matches at the University of Indianapolis Invitational on Friday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10. This improves the team to 6-2 this season.

They started off their dominant weekend with a pair of sweeps on Friday. The Warriors defeated Stonehill College from Easton, Mass., 25-11, 25-17 and 25-18 Friday morning before concluding the day with a 25-18, 25-17 and 25-17 victory over Saginaw Valley State University from University Center, Mich.

The Warriors were led all weekend by senior McKenna Larsen. She accounted for 20 of her team’s total assists from her setter position in game one. She also knocked three aces in and provided a pair of kills as well. She fed some of those assists to teammate Danielle Rampert who ended up with nine total kills, followed by Megan Flom and Maria Fruechte with seven apiece.

The Warriors’ success also comes from their first-year defensive specialist Becca Pagel. In games one and two she had a total of 19 and 18 digs. She was dominant all weekend for the Warriors, a key piece in the team’s defensive unit.

In game two, Larsen and Rampert connected well again. Larsen had a total of 28 assists and Rampert contributed 14 kills. They had a more consistent offensive game in the second match, recording a .305 attacking percentage against Saginaw Valley.

In the second set of games on Saturday, the Warriors came away with two wins to complete the weekend sweep.

Winona took down Wheeling Jesuit University from Wheeling, W.Va. on Saturday morning, Sept. 10, with set scores of 25-12, 23-25, 25-20, and 25-10. Danielle Rampart led all players again in the match with 16 kills, again with the help from McKenna Larsen who recorded 56 assists in this match.

Winona State recorded a season-best .391 attacking percentage against Wheeling Jesuit.

Rampart helped Becca Pagel defensively, both ending up with 21 digs in this game. Lauren Kudronowicz registered four blocks,  Winona totaling seven team blocks in the victory.

Game two against Grand Valley State University from Allendale, Mich. was the Warriors’ biggest contest all weekend, trailing 2-1 at one point in the match. After losing a set 25-27, they rallied to win the last two sets 25-20 and 15-13 to get the victory over Grand Valley. The game featured four lead changes and eight ties before Winona would edge and get the win.

After recording 56 assists in game one, Mckenna Larsen recorded a season high 57 assists this match.  Rampart was once again Larsen’s favorite target as the senior drilled a season-high 24 kills, followed by multiple teammates having double digit kills to create a very balanced offensive attack for the Warriors.

The team will compete on Thursday, Sept. 14 at Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minn. The next home matches will be on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. against Concordia University, St. Paul.