MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team put forth a solid effort Saturday afternoon at Taylor Center but its was #20 Wayne State that came away with the 3-1 win (15-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-23).

With the loss, MSU falls to 11-10 on the season including a 5-8 NSIC record. With the win, WSC improves to 15-8, including an 8-5 conference record.

The first set favored the Mavericks as they cruised to a 25-15 victory. MSU opened the set on a 10-4 run, which included three aces from freshman Micayla Porter to start things off. MSU would lead by as many as 10 points down the stretch as senior Jackie Jones and sophomore Morgan Olson finished the set with four kills each. 

WSC turned the tables on the Mavericks in the second set as it posted its own 25-15 set victory. The Mavericks held a 4-1 lead to start the set but the Wildcats quickly overcame the deficit as they took the lead for good at 7-6. WSC's Erin Gross finished the second set with four kills, while junior Sydney Powell and freshman Ashton Lee each tallied three for the Mavericks.

The third set started out as a back and forth affair with neither squad leading by more than four early. With both teams tied at 12-12, WSC went on a 9-2 run to go up 21-14. The Mavericks managed to get back within three points of Wayne State at 22-19, but the Wildcats were able to lock down the set with a 25-20 win.

The final set proved to be another close contest as neither team led by more then three points throughout. With both teams tied at 16-16, WSC managed to get two quick points off an MSU attack error and a kill from Katie Stephens to go up 18-16. The Mavericks managed to get back within one of the Wildcats at 23-22, but Wayne State would get two of the final three points to lock down the set and the match with a 25-23 win.

Four Mavericks finished the match with at least 10 kills, including freshman Alivia Garbe, who tallied a team-leading 13. Olson added 11 kills, while Powell and Jones finished with 10. Porter finished with 26 assists, with junior Autumn Risch following with 22. Freshman Mara Quam added a match-high 17 digs as well.

As a team, MSU hit .315 during the match. The Mavericks also tallied 57 assists and 55 digs.

Stephens paced the Wildcat offense with 13 kills, while Jaci Brahmer and Gross posted 11. Megan Gebhart passed out a match-high 46 assists as well.

As a unit, WSC hit .320 during the contest. It also tallied five total blocks.

The Mavericks return to action on the road this Friday as they take on #2 Southwest Minnesota State. The match is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.

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