LINCOLN, Neb. - Nebraska Wesleyan volleyball opened the 2026 P-Wolf Invitational with a pair of matches Friday, falling 3-1 to Whitworth in the afternoon before St. Scholastica edged the Prairie Wolves 3-2 in the nightcap. NWU held a 23-19 lead in the fourth set against Whitworth before the Pirates closed with six straight points, then rallied from a 2-0 deficit against the Saints to force a fifth set.
Whitworth 3, Nebraska Wesleyan 1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-23)
The score was tied at 15-15 before Nebraska Wesleyan used a 6-2 run to take control of the opening set. The Pirates responded by shifting the momentum and taking the second set 25-19.
In the third set, NWU held an 8-7 lead before a 10-1 surge by the Pirates gave them a commanding advantage. Whitworth went on to take the set 25-16. The fourth set featured seven lead changes and three ties, with the Prairie Wolves appearing to take control with a 23-19 lead. However, the Pirates closed the set with a 6-0 run to claim the set and the match.
Molly Ramirez led with 18 kills while Ella Foote added eleven. Elecea Saathoff handed out 39 assists.
Grayson Piening, Ramirez and Saathoff combined for 49 digs. Mikyna Stoppkotte had a team best three blocks.
College of St. Scholastica 3, Nebraska Wesleyan 2 (25-20, 25-17, 22-25, 22-25, 15-12)
St. Scholastica took control early, winning the opening set 25-20. The Saints then held a 19-12 advantage in kills in the second set and took a 2-0 lead with a 25-17 win.
The Prairie Wolves responded behind the arms of Molly Ramirez and Ella Foote, winning the third and fourth sets to force a deciding fifth.
NWU struck first in the fifth set behind three kills from Foote, but the Saints answered with an 11-6 run to close out the match 15-12 and earn the five-set victory.
Molly Ramirez recorded 22 kills against the Saints. Macy Plucked served four aces in the match.
Saathoff had 64 assists with Piening leading the back row with 23 digs. Nebraska Wesleyan enjoyed a great defensive night at the net with Stoppkotte registering four blocks.
UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan is back in action tomorrow for Day two of the P-Wolf Invitational. Nebraska Wesleyan faces Gordon at 9 a.m. followed by their finale against #24 St. Olaf at 1:00 pm.
