Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves overcame a shaky 0.93 hitting percentage with ten service aces, seven blocks and a bevy of errors from the visiting University of Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagles on Friday evening to earn a straight-sets victory by set scores of 25-18, 25-17, 25-22.
 
With the win, the second straight at home for the Wolves, NSU climbs back above the .500 mark and sits at 8-7 overall and 3-5 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.  UMC, which had taken the Wolves to five sets in a non-conference match-up earlier this season and has a straight-sets win over then-13^th-ranked Minnesota State to its credit, slipped to 7-10 overall and 2-6 in league action.
 
The Wolves led start to finish in the opening set, and pulled away from a 14-13 lead in the second to head into the break on the heels of an Ella Campbell service ace.
 
UMC, however, came back from the intermission to post four kills and a block to take a 15-12 lead midway through the third set.  The Wolves countered with a Konefesi Vaisigano kill following back-to-back attacking errors to re-take the lead.  UMC would tie it at 16 and again at 17, but a Chelsea Chavez kill and a Morgan Richardson service ace put the Wolves back in the driver's seat.
 
The Golden Eagles kept within striking distance for the remainder of the set, closing to within one and threatening to send the set to extra points, but an Amber Bloom kill and a solo block from Richardson sealed off the set and match victory for the Wolves.
 
NSU was paced offensively by Vaisigano's ten kills and three service aces, while fellow senior Amber Bloom helped finish off the match with five of her nine kills in the final set.  Richardson, Campbell and senior Kaili Aiono all finished with two service aces apiece.
 
UMC's Brittany Looker finished with nine kills and ten assists, while Amanda Swann added seven kills on 23 swings.
 
The Wolves remain in action tomorrow night, taking on Minnesota State Moorhead in another NSIC match-up.  The two teams met earlier in the season at the Dragon's preseason tournament with the Wolves taking home a 3-1 victory.  First serve on Saturday is set for 6 p.m. in Wachs Arena.