#5 St. Cloud State edges #6 Wildcats in five-set thriller | Sports | norfolkneradio.com

WAYNE - #5 St. Cloud State outlasted #6 Wayne State in a five-set Northern Sun Conference volleyball battle between the last two unbeaten teams in league play as the Huskies scored a 27-25, 21-25, 17-25, 25-8, 18-16 victory over the Wildcats at Rice Auditorium Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats are now 14-3 and 8-1 in the league while SCSU is 14-2 and 8-0 in NSIC play.

The visiting Huskies built a 17-11 lead in the opening set over the Wildcats, but WSC closed within one at 19-18 to force a SCSU timeout. The Huskies pushed the lead back to three at 21-18, but the ‘Cats stormed back and grabbed set point at 24-23 following a SCSU attack error.

The ‘Cats got set point again at 25-24 following a Taya Beller kill, but the Huskies scored the next three points for a 27-25 opening set win.

Beller had six kills and three blocks for WSC in the opening set as the Wildcats forced 10 SCSU attack errors that included four blocks.

The second set saw the Wildcats battle back, never trailing in the set to post a 25-21 set win. The last of six ties in the set came at 19-19. Kills by Beller and Channatee Robles put the ‘Cats in front 21-19 and the set was clinched with a Robles service ace for a 25-21 win.

Brooklyn Kusler, Robles and Beller each had five kills in the second set as WSC hit .417 with 18 kills in the set win.

The third set saw the Wildcat take control after an early deficit in a 25-17 set win to take a 2-1 match lead. Trailing 8-5, WSC reeled off seven straight points for a 12-8 advantage. After SCSU closed to within two at 16-14, the ‘Cats scored four straight points for a 20-14 lead and finished the set with a 25-17 win.

WSC forced eight Husky attack errors in the third set. Robles had a team-high five kills in the set with two service aces.

The fourth set was controlled by the visiting Huskies in a 25-8 win to force a fifth set, holding WSC to just six kills while the Huskies had 13 with seven service aces.

The fifth and deciding set was a battle that saw 11 ties and five lead changes. The ‘Cats held a 12-10 lead following a Molly Romano kill and SCSU attack error. But SCSU scored four straight points for match point at 14-12.

WSC used a Beller solo block, a Husky attack error and a Beller ace to score three straight and have match point at 15-14. A block by Romano and Brahmer gave the ‘Cats a second match point at 16-15, but St. Cloud State scored the final three points for an 18-16 win.

Wayne State hit .206 in the match compared to .208 for SCSU. The Wildcats held a 15-8.5 edge in blocks. SCSU had 12 aces to seven for the Wildcats.

Beller had 14 kills and eight blocks to lead the Wildcats. Robles ended with 13 kills and 14 digs. Kusler contributed 12 kills with Maggie Brahmer accounting for 11 kills and five blocks.

Setter Molly Romano had 43 set assists, 11 digs and eight blocks while senior libero Brooke Peltz recorded 20 digs.

The Wildcats will be at home again Thursday evening hosting Augustana in the annual Black Out game in Rice Auditorium starting at 6 p.m.

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