St. Cloud State
13-4,8-1NSIC
Winona State
16-2,7-2NSIC
Volleyball prevails for 3-2 win over #9 Winona State
10/9/2021 8:46:00 PM | Volleyball
Linsey Rachel joins 1000/1000 club in victory
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – It was a match that included everything. Lead changes. Dramatic comebacks. Five sets. Historic milestones. Blistering offense. Sportscenter worthy defense. And, most importantly, a St. Cloud State University volleyball win.
In a match that featured two of the top teams in the nation, the #16 Huskies prevailed for their eighth Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) win of the season, downing #9 Winona State University in five sets. After dropping the first set 25-19, St. Cloud State came storming back to take the match in five, using a well-balanced offense to win the match 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 27-25, 21-25, 15-11).
SURVIVE AND WIN
Statistically, the Huskies played well in the first set. The team hit .270 in the opener, with 13 kills and three errors on 37 total swings. Quality numbers for #16 St. Cloud State. However, the Huskies defense could not stop Winona State offensively, as the Warriors ripped off 20 kills on 40 swings for a .386 hitting percentage. St. Cloud State also could never overcome an early 6-0 deficit, as Winona State took a 10-4 lead on an early serving run before cruising to a 25-19 first set victory.
After a quick reset, the Huskies made several adjustments in set two, rebounding for a 25-21 win to even the match 1-1. Then came set number three, which included yet another dramatic comeback by St. Cloud State. After finding themselves down 14-9, the Huskies won five of the following seven points, cutting the Warriors lead to 16-14 and shifting the momentum in the gym. Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa / Sergeant Bluff-Luton) then went on a six point serving run, giving St. Cloud State a 20-17 cushion late in the set. Though Winona State rallied, the Huskies closed the set by winning three consecutive points, claiming the 27-25 victory on a block by Foley and Phebie Rossi (Rapid City, S.D. / Stevens).
The Warriors put together a rebound of their own, taking the fourth set 25-21 to force the decisive fifth. Since Maddy Torve (Loretto, Minn. / Heritage Christian Academy) won the coin toss, the Huskies started with the serve, and Linsey Rachel (Maple Lake, Minn. / Maple Lake) gave St. Cloud State a 4-0 lead it would never relinquish. Even the late threat of a Winona State comeback wasn't enough to scare the Huskies, as they secured a 15-11 win on a kill from Allison Naughton (Des Moines, Iowa / Dowling Catholic) to win the match 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 27-25, 25-21, 15-11).
TOP HUSKIES
- Sophomore outside Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa / Sergeant Bluff-Luton) was completely dominant Saturday afternoon, tying her career-high with 25 kills and 17 digs for St. Cloud State.
- Linsey Rachel (Maple Lake, Minn. / Maple Lake) closed her weekend with another double-double, tallying 14 kills and 18 digs.
- Maddy Torve (Loretto, Minn. / Heritage Christian Academy) closed the match with 53 assists and led St. Cloud State to a .234 hitting percentage
- Junior libero Abigail Groeneweg (Forest Lake, Minn. / Forest Lake) had a career day against Winona State, tallying a team-leading and career high 21 digs in five sets.
WELCOME TO THE CLUB
Linsey Rachel (Maple Lake, Minn. / Maple Lake) is officially in rarified air (not that she wasn't already). The senior tallied her 1000 dig of her career Saturday afternoon, becoming just the fourth player in program history to record both 1000 kills and 1000 digs. Rachel needed just 75 matches to reach 1000/1000 and now ranks tenth all-time in career digs.
IN GAIL WE TRUST
Abigail Groeneweg (Forest Lake, Minn. / Forest Lake) had a night to remember in Winona, Minnesota, as she tallied a career-high 21 digs in five sets against the Warriors. Groeneweg additionally added four aces for the Huskies and went on a huge serving run that allowed the team to win the second and third sets.
QUOTABLES
Chad Braegelmann on Upper Iowa:
"I am very proud of the way our women played tonight in a hostile environment. We did a decent job of slowing down their offense, especially when we needed to at the end of sets two, three and five. Winona's middles are so explosive - they put us on our heels quite a bit tonight, but our offensive matched them. Maddy did a good job finding the hot hitters at the right time. Kenzie's 25 kills were impressive. Allison took a great swing to end the match. Overall, it was a very exciting night."
UP NEXT
St. Cloud State will return to Halenbeck Hall for its next NSIC match, as the team is set to host the University of Mary at 6:00 p.m. CT in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
