Box Score
ABERDEEN, S.D. - Led by 12 kills from senior
Kaleinani Kabalis - seven in the first set alone - and ten total service aces, the Northern State Wolves powered their way past the visiting U-Mary Marauders Sunday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball action.
With the win, the Wolves moved into a four-way tie for fourth in the NSIC standings. At 16-10 overall and 11-7 in the loop, the Wolves clinched a spot in the league post-season tournament, which makes its return to the NSIC this season. NSU holds the tiebreaker over Upper Iowa, Augustana and Winona State. AC and WSU are also tied with the Wolves for the fourth place spot, along with Minnesota State. UIU sits back in ninth.
Kabalis helped the Wolves to a dominant opening set victory, pounding seven kills on eight attempts as the Wolves raced out to a 25-13 victory. Set two was much the same, this time with the offensive firepower coming from sophomore
Macey Finizio, who had four kills on six attempts in that stanza.
The Marauders put up a fight in the third set and forced an NSU timeout after taking a 12-9 lead. NSU, however, rallied to take a 23-17 lead backed by stron serving from
Kelsey Chambers and a pair of kills from
Jussy Tuscherer. Kabalis added another two kills at the end of the rally to put the Wolves firmly in the driver's seat, then finished off the set and match with her 12th kill of the night.
Chambers finished with seven kills and three service aces, while Kabalis,
Drew Smith and
Ella Campbell had two aces apiece to lead a solid NSU serving attack. Finizio also finished with seven kills on the offensive side, while Smith dished out 37 assists and guided the Wolves to a .245 percentage at the net.
NSU remains at home next weekend to finish out the regular season, hosting Bemidji State and Minnesota, Crookston in the final two matches of the season. First serve is set for 7 p.m. on Friday night against the Beavers, while the Wolves and Golden Eagles will square off at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Wachs Arena.
