LINCOLN, Neb. – Playing for the first time in front of their home crowd, the Nebraska Wesleyan University volleyball team was very impressive in a 3-0 sweep over University of Wisconsin-Platteville to open the Prairie Wolf Invite at Snyder Arena.
NWU won in straight sets over the Pioneers in scores of 25-23, 25-22, 25-10 to move to 8-4 on the season. UW-Platteville, which beat Johnson & Wales in the first match of the night now has a 12-4 record.
The Prairie Wolves reeled off three straight points to break a 20-20 tie in the opening set. They had match point three times before finally ending it with a kill by
Hannah Bellinghausen.
UW-Platteville jumped out quick in the second set leading by five early then by as many as eight points at 18-10 before the Prairie Wolves made a huge push. Four straight points cut the lead down to four at 18-14 forcing a Pioneer timeout. The Pioneers got up 20-14 then the Prairie Wolves got on a roll.
Two straight errors then consecutive blocks by
Cora Svoboda pulled the Praire Wolves within two points at 18-20. A kill from Bellinghausen and ace by
Whitney Jensen tied the set up after the six point deficit.
Trailing 22-21, the Prairie Wolves scored four straight points capped by a kill from
Nicole Gonzales in the huge comeback set win.
The Pioneers were deflated in the third set after allowing the comeback and NWU took advantage to seize all the momentum created by the home crowd. Six straight points, including three aces from
Kelsie Stovall got the Prairie Wolves up 13-4 and they cruised the rest of the way.
Nebraska Wesleyan finished the match with 38 kills and a .316 hitting percentage, highlighted by 14 kills and only one error in the third set.
Hannah Bellinghausen led the way with 12 kills.
Cora Svoboda added seven kills with five blocks.
Cassidy Plooster dished out 32 assists with 10 digs for a double-double.
Kelsie Stovall led NWU with 14 digs.
The Prairie Wolves are back in action on Saturday when they face Johnson & Wales at 1 pm in the third match of the day.
