Decatur, IL - Nebraska Wesleyan volleyball picked up a pair of wins on Saturday to improve to 11-7 on the season. The Prairie Wolves defeated both Millikin University and Carroll University in four sets, topping the Big Blue 25-15, 21-25, 25-21, 25-22 and the Pioneers 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-14.
Nebraska Wesleyan opened the day with a four-set victory over Millikin, finishing with 52 kills and a .274 hitting percentage. The Prairie Wolves established their offensive rhythm early, hitting .345 in the opening set to take a 25-15 win. After Millikin evened the match with a second-set victory, Nebraska Wesleyan responded by winning the final two sets to secure the match.
Molly Ramirez, Jera Schuerman and Macy Plucker each recorded 11 kills to lead the Prairie Wolves against the Big Blue. Ella Foote added nine kills while hitting .350, and Mikyna Stoppkotte contributed seven kills with an impressive .462 hitting percentage. Elecea Saathoff directed the offense with 43 assists, while Stoppkotte led the team at the net with three solo blocks and two block assists. Foote also delivered three service aces as Nebraska Wesleyan finished with 13 aces and 9 total blocks.
The Prairie Wolves carried that momentum into their second match of the day, earning another four-set victory over Carroll. Nebraska Wesleyan opened with wins in the first two sets, taking the opening frame 25-21 before dominating the second set 25-15. Carroll extended the match with a 25-22 win in the third, but the Prairie Wolves responded emphatically in the fourth set to close out the victory.
Nebraska Wesleyan totaled 55 kills and hit .241 against the Pioneers, led by Ramirez with 15 kills. Stoppkotte delivered one of her most efficient performances of the season, recording 12 kills on 18 attempts with just two errors for a .556 hitting percentage. Plucker added nine kills, while Foote finished with eight and Schuerman contributed seven. Saathoff once again led the offense with 43 assists, giving her 86 assists across the two matches.
Defensively, the Prairie Wolves received contributions throughout the lineup against Carroll. Saathoff recorded 11 digs, while Grayson Piening also finished with 11 digs and Plucker added eight. Nebraska Wesleyan's defense was particularly effective in the final set, limiting Carroll to four kills and a -.148 hitting percentage. The Prairie Wolves took advantage to earn a commanding 25-14 win and complete the Saturday sweep.
With the two victories, Nebraska Wesleyan improved to 11-7 overall, earning back-to-back wins to close out the day's competition in Decatur.
The Prairie Wolves return to Snyder Arena on Friday and Saturday for more conference play, hosting No. 17 University of Dubuque on Friday before taking on Loras on Saturday for Senior Night.
