DENVER, CO – Early season non-conference volleyball came to an end over the weekend during the Colorado Premier Tournament for Wayne State College.
From the Regis University Fieldhouse in Denver, Colorado, #17 WSC opened Saturday with #2 Angelo State (TX) and won in straight sets (25-21, 25-20, 25-19).
The ‘Cats then battled #20 Metro State (Denver) in the Colorado Premier Tournament final where they saw their 18-straight set win streak come to an end. A back and forth battle went five sets favoring MSU Denver (25-16, 29-31, 21-25, 25-17, 15-12).
WSC is now 6-1 on the season as MSU Denver improved to 6-2 and crowned Colorado Premier Invite Gold Division champion.
In the opening match, Taya Beller (one dig) and Jazlin De Haan both finished with 12 kills. Rachel Walker posted a double-double with 33 set assists and 16 digs to go along with two kills; Kelsie Cada recorded eight kills and 10 digs; Maggie Brahmer finished with six kills; Jordan McCormick tacked on 11 digs; Jessie Brandl had 10 digs and a kill; Alaina Wolff had nine digs as Elly Larson had one kill and two digs.
Cada led the team in aces with three while Wolf and Ally Beresford both had a service ace.
Beller recorded five blocks (two solo); Walker had two blocks (one solo) as other blocks came from Cada, Larson, De Haan and Brahmer.
WSC outhit Angelo State, .264 to .116.
From the championship match, three Wildcats finished with double figure kills led by De Haan with 17 kills and Beller who added 16 kills to go along with two blocks (one solo). Cada recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs; Walker finished with 54 set assists, seven digs and three kills; Wolff paced the team in digs with 17 as McCormick had 11 digs. Brahmer tallied nine kills as Larson had four kills.
WSC was limited to just two aces from Beresford and Beller. Other blocks came from Walker and Brahmer each with two while Beller and Larson both had one.
MSU Denver finished with 17 total team blocks compared to seven from WSC.
The Wildcats were outhit for the first time of .313 to .247 in favor of Metro State.
The consolation round favored #2 Angelo State over #1 Concordia-St. Paul (25-16, 25-21, 25-17) to improve to 7-1 while CSP fell to 6-2 after losing to #20 MSU Denver in straight sets.
#17 Wayne State College will next open NSIC competition with road matches at #11 Minnesota Duluth on Friday, September 17 at 6 p.m. and at #13 St. Cloud State on Saturday, September 18 at 1 p.m. WSC’s home opener will be on Tuesday, September 21 vs. Sioux Falls at 6 p.m.
