Box Score MANKATO, Minn. – The No. 19 Minnesota State Mavericks didn’t let the fact that No. 10 Wayne State had a higher national ranking than them affect their play on the court as MSU battled back after a first-set defeat to take down the Wildcats in four sets (28-30, 25-23, 25-17, 25-18).
 
Wayne State was in control for the majority of the first set as the Wildcats found themselves at game-point, 24-21.  However, the Mavericks battled back and eventually took a 26-25 lead after a kill by sophomore outside hitter Jenna McNallan.  MSU was unable to capitalize on their late lead as Wayne State finished the set on a 5-2 run, taking the set, 30-28.
 
Minnesota State evened the match at a game apiece in the following set as they were able to fight back from an early 9-5 deficit.  MSU battled back-and-forth with Wayne State as the teams traded points with each other until the Mavericks were able to take a late 23-22 lead after an attack error by Wayne State’s Tali Fredrickson.  After surrendering the following point, MSU would score the set’s final two points as junior outside hitter Kayla Berning and junior middle blocker Courteney Steinhauser teamed up for the set-winning block.
 
Both teams traded points once again in the third set as the teams found themselves tied early at 8-8.  MSU went on a 10-4 run from this point giving them an 18-12 advantage which the Wildcats were not able to come back from.  The Mavericks scored the set’s final five points courtesy of four straight kills before a service ace by senior defensive specialist Alli Rice sealed the 25-17 victory.
 
Minnesota State was able to complete the upset in the matches’ fourth set as it took control following a 10-10 start.  The Mavericks used a 10-4 run to give them a 20-14 lead forcing Wayne State to call a timeout.  Following the timeout, MSU scored five of the night’s final nine points as it finished off the Wildcats, 25-18.
 
The Mavericks were led offensively by four players who recorded double-digit kills.  Junior outside hitter Chelsea Fogarty led the way with 23 kills on 64 attempts (.328), while junior middle blocker Jill Storlie tallied 18 kills on 39 attempts (.308).  Rounding out the four Mavericks with 10 or more kills were Berning who contributed 12 kills on 37 attempts (.216) and McNallan who added 11 on 40 attempts (.100).  Three Mavericks recorded 20 or more digs including senior setter Brittany Stamer (26), Fogarty (24) and Rice (20), while Stamer paced the squad with 61 assists.
 
MSU recorded 114 digs compared to Wayne State’s 107 while the Mavericks also out-killed the Wildcats, 71-50.  Four Mavericks recorded service aces on the night as MSU combined for six total service aces compared to just one for Wayne State.
 
The Mavericks (13-7, 6-6 NSIC) will take to the road for their next match as they travel to Fayette, Iowa, to face Upper Iowa University on Friday.  The tilt is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.