Wayne State Volleyball Advances To DII Elite Eight
Photo Credit: Brandon Dugan/Concordia-St Paul Athletics
(St Paul, MN) - #3 Wayne State College capped a second-ever NCAA Central Region championship by scoring the final 10 points of the fourth set to defeat #2 Concordia-St. Paul in the NCAA Central Region Volleyball Tournament final played Saturday evening at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Scores of the match were 27-25, 20-25, 25-23 and 25-20. The Wildcats are now 31-2 on the season while CSP ends the season at 30-3. Wayne State now advances to the NCAA Elite Eight in Moon Township, Pennsylvania Thursday, December 7-Saturday, December 9.
The opening set was an early sign in the caliber of volleyball that would be played in the match. The two teams fought back and forth that featured 18 ties and seven lead changes. Tied at 18-18, Concordia-St. Paul scored three straight points to take the first lead of more than two in the set at 21-18. The Wildcats came right back and reeled off four straight points, highlighted by consecutive solo blocks by Taya Beller and a block by Beller and Rachel Walker to go in front 22-21.
The two teams traded set points and with the Golden Bears leading 25-24 the Wildcats got back-to-back kills from Kelsie Cada followed by a set closing block by Cada and Walker to win a thrilling opening set 27-25. Wayne State jumped out to a quick 7-4 lead in the second set forcing an early CSP timeout. The Golden Bears rallied and built a 10-9 lead, never relinquishing the lead the rest of the set. With CSP holding a 17-14 lead, the 'Cats got within one at 19-18 following a kill from Beller. But three straight points from the Golden Bears increased their lead to 22-18 and CSP capped the set with a 25-20 win to even the match.
The Wildcats regained momentum early in the third set and never trailed, but the host Golden Bears made the set close before the 'Cats pulled out a 25-23 win.
WSC scored the first three points of the set and following three straight Maggie Brahmer kills and a Cada ace put the 'Cats in front 11-5. Wayne State pushed the lead to 15-8, but CSP started to rally and scored four straight to force a Wildcat timeout at 15-12.
The 'Cats still held a 21-18 lead when the Golden Bears closed within one at 23-22 and 24-23, but a Cada kill on set point gave WSC a 25-23 third set win.
Concordia-St. Paul controlled a good share of the fourth set until an improbable scoring run to end the set gave Wayne State a thrilling rally and match win.
The Golden Bears held a 20-15 lead in the fourth set when Wayne State began their comeback. Kills from Cada and Robles along with a CSP error cut the lead to two (20-18). Consecutive blocks by Bunjer and Brahmer evened the score at 20-20. A CSP error followed by Wildcat kills by Robles and two in a row by Brahmer made it 24-20. The rally was made complete thanks to a service ace by Cada giving Wayne State the improbable 25-20 rally in the fourth set and a Wildcat victory.
Wayne State finished the match with a .360 hitting percentage with CSP hitting .333. The 'Cats forced 19 CSP attack errors highlighted by 12 blocks. The Golden Bears held a 9-4 edge in service aces, but CSP had 12 service errors to just four by WSC.
Beller led four Wildcats in double-figure kills at 16. Cada followed with 15, Brahmer 13 and Robles 11. Beller had a team-high six blocks that included three solo blocks. Brahmer, Bunjer and Walker each added four blocks. Havyn Heinz recorded a team-high 16 digs with Jordan McCormick adding 13. Setter Rachel Walker was credited with 49 set assists. Wayne State had five players named to the Central Region All-Tournament Team announced at the conclusion of the tournament. They were Maggie Brahmer, Taya Beller, Jordan McCormick, Kelsie Cada and Rachel Walker.
The eight region champions will be re-seeded at the conclusion of the region championship games with a national championship bracket to be released Monday morning.
