Box Score
ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves snapped a 4-match home losing streak with a straight sets sweep of the visiting University of Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagles Tuesday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball action.
NSU claimed the opening set in extra points, 26-24, before clamping down in the final two sets, 25-10 and 25-11 to complete the sweep. With the win, their first in Wachs Arena this season, the Wolves improve to 10-9 on the year and 2-8 in conference play. UMC fell to 0-18 overall and 0-10 in the league.
The Wolves used six blocks and took advantage of 20 UMC hitting errors to hold the Golden Eagles to a .056 attack percentage at the net. Junior Kaili Aiono was in on four of those blocks, teaming up with senior
Jordan Schaffer three times in the third and final set. Schaffer finished with three blocks and a match-high 12 kills.
Following a back-and-forth first set that saw 14 ties and four lead changes, the Wolves took control of the match midway through the second. NSU rallied from a 6-8 deficit using a 10-0 run. Sophomore Ella Campbell tallied three straight service aces in that rally. The Wolves claimed 19 of the final 21 points of the set to go up two sets to none heading into the break.
With momentum squarely in their court, the Wolves came out of the break and raced to a 7-0 lead to start the third set and used a 9-1 run late in the stanza to put the Golden Eagles away. Schaffer led the way in the onslaught, tallying six of her 12 kills in the final set. Senior Kayla Ysteboe was right behind with five kills.
Campbell, getting the start at the libero slot, spearheaded the defensive effort for the Wolves, finishing with 20 digs on the night. Junior Konefesi Vaisigano tallied 10 kills and 10 digs to go along with a .400 attack percentage. As a team, the Wolves registered a .281 percentage at the net.
The Wolves go back on the road this weekend for a single match at the University of Mary on Saturday night. First serve is set for 4 p.m. in Bismarck.
