St. Cloud State
25-4,19-1NSIC
Southwest Minnesota State
21-8,13-7NSIC
Huskies dominate Mustangs in 3-0 sweep
11/18/2021 9:48:00 PM | Volleyball
#11 Huskies tally 12.0 total team blocks in 3-0 victory
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The St. Cloud State University volleyball team is the No. 1 team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Tournament for a reason. The #11 Huskies are good. Like, really good, and they proved it once again Thursday night. In perhaps its most dominant win of the season, St. Cloud State swept #16 Southwest Minnesota State, opening the NSIC Tournament with a 3-0 (25-20 25-13, 25-19) win over the Mustangs.
DANCING TO THE SEMIS
It was all St. Cloud State early and often in the NSIC Quarterfinal against SMSU, as the Huskies won perhaps their most dominant game of the 2021 season. St. Cloud State set the tone early and took care of business in the first set, winning 25-20 behind the solid block of Phebie Rossi (Rapid City, S.D. / Stevens). The junior middle block tallied four total blocks in the first set alone and added five digs as the Huskies top offensive and defensive weapon. St. Cloud State also recorded two aces in the first set, using more untraditional ways to score points against the Mustangs stingy defense.
The same was true in the second set, as the Huskies cruised to a 25-13 victory for a 2-0 lead in the match. St. Cloud State was dominant in every facet of the game, as the Huskies both out hit and out blocked SMSU in the second set. In fact, the blocking margin was 9.5-1.5 in St. Cloud State's favor after the second, as the Huskies tallied 19 (1 solo, 18 assists) blocks in the first two sets alone. Additionally, the Huskies hit .406 in the second set with 15 total team kills in that second set alone.
Then came the third set. Unlike past matches, St. Cloud State did not let up, and the team certainly did not let the Mustangs breath, jumping out to an 8-3 lead on the strong serve of Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa / Sergeant Bluff-Luton). While SMSU did put a fight late in the third set, closing the Huskies lead to 20-15 let in the set, it was no harm no foul, as St. Cloud State won five of the ensuing nine points to secure the 25-19 victory and, more importantly, the 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-19) sweep.
TOP HUSKIES
- Linsey Rachel (Maple Lake, Minn. / Maple Lake) was the terminator for the Huskies Thursday evening, racking up a team-leading 11 kills on 24 swings. Her defense was equally as impressive, as she closed the match with nine digs and four block assists for St. Cloud State.
- Middle blockers Phebie Rossi (Rapid City, S.D. / Stevens) and Allison Naughton (Des Moines, Iowa / Dowling Catholic) both had days for the Huskies, as their block was key to St. Cloud State's victory. Rossi ended the match with eight blocks (1 solo, seven assists) and eight kills, while Naughton tallied seven kills and four block assists in the win.
- Maddy Torve (Loretto, Minn. / Heritage Christian Academy) finished the match with 35 assists, while Abigail Groeneweg (Forest Lake, Minn. / Forest Lake) closed with 10 digs.
ANOTHER!
Record that is. Thanks to Thursday's win over the Mustangs, St. Cloud State extends its win streak to 15 consecutive matches, which is the longest win streak in program history. The Huskies longest win streak to date was set in 1985, when the team won 14 consecutive matches in the middle of the regular season.
FAMILIAR FOES
This was the third meeting between St. Cloud State and SMSU and fifth since 2018. In that time span, the Huskies are 5-0 again the Mustangs, with their first win coming on October 16, 2018. Prior to the last five meetings, St. Cloud State was 0-5 against SMSU and 0-16 in NSIC play.
UP NEXT
The Huskies advance to the NSIC Semifinal round for the second consecutive season, as they are set to take on #15 Wayne State on Friday, November 19. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at The Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
