Wayne State 3 Southwest Minnesota State 2
#18 Wayne State beat its second nationally ranked opponent in as many nights as the Wildcats defeated #15 Southwest Minnesota State 3-2 (25-22, 26-24, 25-20, 25-22, 15-13) Saturday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. Sophomore Tali Fredrickson had 19 kills on the evening and added a team high 30 digs, her 10th double-double of the season to lead the Wildcats. The victory makes Wayne State 23-4 overall and 11-2 in the NSIC and the loss drops Southwest Minnesota State to 19-7 overall and 9-5 in the NSIC.
The Wildcats defeated the Mustangs 25-22 in game one while only hitting .213. SMSU hit .331 in games two and three to defeat WSC 26-24 in game two and 25-20 in game three. Wayne State battled back in game four hitting .314 and holding Southwest Minnesota State to a .246 hitting percentage to win 25-22. In the fifth game the Wildcats found themselves down 12-9, but battled back earn the victory.
WSC was led offensively by Jennifer Hefner who had 20 kills on the night. Fredrickson added 19 and freshman Madison Pernicek added 12 kills. Sophomore Shelby Schultz had a game high five services aces and setter Diedra Artz was credited with 56 set assists. Defensively, Fredrickson had 30 digs followed by Leigh Connot who added 21 for WSC. Hefner and Artz each added two blocks for Wayne State in the match.
SMSU was led offensively by Brooke Burmeister who had a game high 26 kills. Tory Brouwer and Devin Diedrich added 19 kills each for the Mustangs. Setter Sara Graf was credited with 54 set assists. Defensively, Kenzi Niesche had 37 digs and Diedrich added five Blocks for the Mustangs.
The Wildcats will be on the road next weekend as WSC travels to St. Cloud State on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and then pay a visit to #1 Concordia, St. Paul Saturday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.