Wayne, Neb.--- The Minnesota State volleyball team fell to #3 Wayne State in straight sets on Saturday evening in Wayne, Neb. The Wildcats won by scores of 25-14, 25-22 and 25-21 over the Mavericks.

MSU's overall record falls to 15-11 and 9-9 in conference play.

In the first frame of action MSU found themselves down early as WSC took an early 10-3 lead over the Mavericks. The Wildcats took their first double-digit lead in the set at 15-5 against the Mavericks and never looked back. WSC downed MSU in set one 25-14.

The Mavericks recorded three total team blocks in the set, while tea Wildcats posted zero blocks. Junior Krista Hassing [Blue Earth, Minn.] added three kills and two total blocks, while freshman Autumn Risch [Howards Grove, Wis.] collected eight assists.

MSU tallied its only lead in the second set after scoring the first point in the set from junior Lexi Platz [Lafayette, Minn.]. WSC would quickly show its prowess again in the set as it took a 14-7 lead over MSU midway through the set. The Mavericks would hang tough as they were able to trim into the Wildcats lead down to two, 21-19. After a WSC timeout, the Wildcats quickly scored the next two points in the set to extend their lead to 23-19 over the Mavericks. WSC would go on to take the second set 25-22 over MSU. 

The Mavericks were able to out hit the Wildcats in the second set as they posted a .310 attack percentage and held WSC to a .209 attack percentage. Hassing dominated the set as she tallied seven kills, a .700 attack percentage and two total blocks. Platz added four kills of her own, while junior Courtney Anderson [Tripoli, Iowa] and freshman Nevena Vukomanovich [Maplewood, Minn.] each tallied two kills apiece in the set.

It looked as though the Wildacts would take the third set handily over the Mavericks as WSC led, 20-12 late in the set. MSU managed to go on a 7-2 run to cut WSC's lead down to three, 22-19. The Mavericks late run fell just short as the Wildcats took the third and final set 25-21.

Again Hassing added another six kills in the set, while Anderson, Platz and Vukomanovich each finished with two kills in the final set.

Overall, MSU racked up nine total team blocks in the loss compared to WSC collecting just two total team blocks. The Mavericks posted 10 service errors and zero service aces in the match, while the Wildcats recorded five service errors and six service aces.

Hassing finished the match with 16 kills, six total blocks and a .500 attack percentage. Platz ended with seven kills and two total blocks of her own, as Anderson and Vukomanovich each finished with five kills apiece in the loss.

Risch posted a team-high 36 assists, along with nine digs, while junior Haley Fogarty [Belle Plaine, Minn.] tallied a match-high 18 digs. Junior Rissi McNallan [Andover, Minn.] finished second on the team with 12 digs of her own and freshman Maddie Keute [Grand Rapids, Minn.] collected 10 digs to her stat line.

MSU will play its final two regular season matches of the year next weekend at Taylor Center against #2 Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. The Mavericks take on SMSU on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and USF on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.