After dropping its first match of the season, the St. Catherine University volleyball team has been playing solid volleyball since. The Wildcats extended their winning streak to four consecutive matches with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-22) win over Maranatha Baptist University before defeating Marian University 3-1 (27-29, 27-25, 25-13, 25-19) Friday at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Tournament in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
"We played alright against Maranatha," said Head Coach
Corey Phelps. "We finally started playing our game late in the second set. We came back in set one against Marian from 15-20 to a set point only to lose 27-29. Then we picked it up enought to win the next three straight."
In the opening win over Maranatha Baptist, senior
Alyssa Besch (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) was at the top of her game collecting a match-high 12 kills with a solid .417 hitting percentage. She also contributed to one of five team aces and had three total blocks.
Sabrina Astar (Hastings, Minn./Hastings) had another strong outing early in her rookie season with nine kills and one block, while
Payton Baker (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) collected six kills in just two sets played. Seniors
Zoe Barr (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) and
Amber Zeiher (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) also recorded five kills a piece, while
Anna Schrupp (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) made and appearance with four kills and 12 digs.
Maria Davis (West St. Paul, Minn./St. Agnes) set up the Wildcat offense with 20 assists and also helped the defensive effort with 10 digs.
Hayley Levenhagen (Pewaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial) also contributed 12 assists and six digs.
Shanee Herd (Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson) chipped in a team-high 17 digs, while
Shelby Rachel (Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake) had 10.
Against Marian, several first year players came into the game and were difference makers in leading the Wildcats to victory, according to Phelps. After seeing her most collegiate action in the opener, Schrupp was outstanding against Marian with a match-high 21 digs and added seven kills and a service ace. Baker again contributed in a big way with 12 kills, five digs and two block assists.
Besch had another big match with 13 kills and four block assists, while Barr had 10 kills and Astar added eight.
Bailey Auseth (Wanamingo, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo) came in defensively to help change pace adding six digs and a service ace, while Levenhagen set up the offense with 32 assists.
Johna Radke (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) also saw significant action with 23 assists.
"These were two good wins for us," said Phelps. "Our biggest test of the weekend is tomorrow morning."
That test will come against host and No. 21-ranked UW-Oshkosh at 9:30 a.m. before the Wildcats will see action against Wisconsin Lutheran College at 11:30 a.m. in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
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