St. Cloud State
27-4,19-1NSIC
Winona State
28-4,17-3NSIC
Volleyball claims NSIC Tournament Championship
11/20/2021 5:19:00 PM | Volleyball
Huskies win conference tournament for first time in program history
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The St. Cloud State University volleyball team is the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Tournament Champions.
Just seven years after going 1-19 in NSIC play, the #11 Huskies downed #8 Winona State 3-1 (25-17, 26-24, 22-25, 25-21) to win their first NSIC Tournament Title in program history. St. Cloud State additionally clinches the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will take place December 2-4 or 3-5 at a yet to be determined location.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
In the words of head coach Chad Braegelmann, it was going to be a slug fest from the get go, as the top two teams in the NSIC met for the NSIC Tournament title. From the beginning, the match lived up to its reputation, as the two teams duked it out for supremacy early in the first set. After the Huskies took the early 2-0 lead, no team led by greater than two points, and the score was tied for the majority of the opener. That is, until Rachel Houle (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) went back to serve. The senior serving specialist aced her way to a 15-13 St. Cloud State lead, an advantage the Huskies would never relinquish, as they went on to take the first set 25-17.
The second set was much like the first, as the two teams battled through the first 30 points, resulting in a 15-15 tie. Unlike the first, it was Winona State that eventually nabbed the two point advantage, first at 17-15 then again at 19-17. However, St. Cloud State wasn't out for the count, tying the set to 20-20 on a stuff block by Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa / Sergeant Bluff-Luton) and Allison Naughton (Des Moines, Iowa / Dowling Catholic). The set remained tied at 24-24 before Phebie Rossi (Rapid City, S.D. / Stevens) gave the Huskies a 25-24 advantage with a beautiful slide. Foley then seals the 26-24 victory with an ace, giving St. Cloud State a 2-0 advantage in the match.
The momentum from winning the second set carried over to the third, as the Huskies jumped ahead to a quick 3-0 lead before extending it to 13-10 midway through the set. However, Winona State made things interesting late in the set, as the Warriors tied the set at 18-18 before taking a 22-20 lead. St. Cloud State again didn't panic, rallying to tie the set at 22-22 before Winona State won three straight points to win the set 25-22.
The fourth set started much like the third: the Huskies were dominant, jumping out to an 8-3 lead behind aces from Foley and Houle. St. Cloud State fans held their breath, though, as the Warriors once again chipped away at the Huskies lead. First, Winona State closed the lead to 13-11 with tough, aggressive serving, then the Warriors eventually tied the set at 13-13, the momentum seemingly shifting in The Pentagon.
Houle had other ideas, as her two aces resulted in a 17-13 lead late in the set. Again, pesky Winona State would not go away, cutting the lead to 20-17 then 21-18. The two teams would trade points again. And again. And Again, until St. Cloud State took a 24-21 lead. In poetic fashion, Maddy Torve (Loretto, Minn. / Heritage Christian Academy) won the match for the Huskies, as her tip to the back corner clipped the line, securing the 25-21 win for St. Cloud State.
TOP HUSKIES
- Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa / Sergeant Bluff-Luton) recorded her second 20+ kill match of the tournament, as she closed the match with 21 kills, 11 digs and three aces, accounting for 25.5 points Saturday afternoon.
- Fellow outside Linsey Rachel (Maple Lake, Minn. / Maple Lake) came to play, as she finished the match with 16 kills and 13 digs.
- Maddy Torve (Loretto, Minn. / Heritage Christian Academy) recorded 48 assists in the four-set marathon, while Abigail Groeneweg (Forest Lake, Minn. / Forest Lake) finished the match with a team-leading 19 digs.
- Rachel Houle (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) recorded six aces in the win over Winona State, tying her career high.
ALL-TOURNEY TEAM
Foley, Rachel, Rossi and Torve were named to the All-Tournament team, adding to their already full trophy cases. The quad all were named First Team All-NSIC earlier this season, becoming the first Huskies to earn both All-Conference and All-Tournament team honors in the same season.
WE GOT THAT ACE!
St. Cloud State ended the match with a season-high 13 team aces, led by Houle's six. The performance ranks 12th all-time in single-match aces, while Houle's six-ace performance comes in at No. 5 all-time for a single-match performance.
UP NEXT
With the win, the Huskies earned the NSIC's at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will take place December 2-4 or 3-5 at a yet to be determined location. St. Cloud State will discover its fate on Monday, November 22 during the NCAA Selection Show. More information, regarding times and potential watch parties, will be available on Sunday.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
