Robert Rothwell/Winonan
Sam Thiel/Winonan
After a long road trip in which the Warriors went 10- 2, the Winona State volleyball team finally returned home to face the Peacocks of Upper Iowa.
Both squads started well offensively to begin the game, with Upper Iowa winning the first set 25-22 while the Warriors snagged the second set, 25-19.
The Peacocks hit .406 in the opener while the Warriors hit .378 in their second set victory.
The third set proved to be a test of endurance, with WSU edging out UIU for a 34-32 victory.
Upper Iowa then evened the match at two sets apiece with a 25-22 fourth set win. In the final fifth set, the Warriors used a 10-5 run to earn a 15-10 win as well as the match victory.
Kate Horihan and Bekah Saugen led the offensive onslaught for the Warriors, each recording at least 20 kills.
Horihan put away 28 kills in 48 attempts with only three errors to hit .521 in the game.
Saugen contributed 22 kills and nine digs for WSU while Katie Froehle had a double- double with 11 kills and ten digs.
On the defensive side, Maggie Finkel anchored the Warriors with 28 digs while Elena Kruesel recorded 11.
Three Warriors reached double-digit assists led by Kruesel’s 29. Kayla Uhlenhake dished out 23 assists while Kaley Jacobson added 15.
The Winona State volleyball team continued their winning streak with a 3-0 victory over the University of Mary Friday in Bismarck, ND.
The Warriors won the first set 25-22, controlled the tempo in a 25-17 victory in the second set and clinched the match with a 25-21 win in the final set.
On the offensive end for the Warriors, Bekah Saugen led the way with 10 kills while Kate Horihan cashed in nine and Katie Froehle added eight.
As it has been all season long, Winona State’s net play was fantastic, which led the Marauders in total kills 40-26. The Warrior defense held the Marauders to a hitting percentage of .092.
Mary is the sixth opponent to have a hitting percentage of less than .100 against the Warriors this season.
“Defensively we have improved our blocking scheme and we have better communication amongst our defenders. Our experience is a big factor,” coach Dave Simon said. “Our main defenders on the floor are a senior and the rest juniors, so I feel that better communication is a product of this as well as our defenders having a better understanding of the system and their responsibilities within the system.”
Kaley Jacobson had her first double-double of the season, netting a team-high in both assists (15) and digs (11).
Maggie Finkel also recorded ten digs for WSU in the victory. With the victory, the Warriors increased their win streak to 11. The Winona State volleyball team won its 12th consecutive match by beating Minot State 3-0 Saturday in Minot, ND. With the victory the Warriors tied the program record set in 1987.
Spectacular defense was the difference maker in the Warriors victory once again, holding Minot State to a hitting percentage of .000.
The Beavers were the seventh opponent Winona State has held to a hitting percentage of less than .100 this year.
WSU had seven total blocks in the game as well.
“It isn’t easy to hold the competition to under .100 but our back row has been doing a great job of playing defense,” senior Kate Horihan said. “We served well on Saturday which kept them out of system to get a good set and attack.”
The Warriors were victorious in the first set, winning 25-22.
They dominated the second set 25-11 and put the match away with a 25-21 victory in the third set to advance to 13-2 overall on the season and 5-0 in NSIC play.
Kate Horihan recorded 12 kills for the Warriors while hitting .500.
Bekah Saugen also chipped in 12 kills and served up five aces for WSU.
Kaley Jacobson led the team in the passing department, dishing out 15 assists while Elena Kruesel cashed in 11.
On the defensive end, Maggie Finkel led the way with 13 digs.
Winona State will have the opportunity to have the outright ownership of the program record for consecutive wins when it plays host to Bemidji State at 7pm on Sept. 28.
Contact Sam at [email protected]
