Behind season highs in blocks (13), digs (81) and aces (15), the Raven Volleyball team earned a 3-2 win over MNU on Tuesday night inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.
Benedictine (11-14, 6-3 Heart) needed a fifth-set win to even the regular-season series with MNU (16-7, 7-3 Heart) after falling 25-23 in set three. MNU built a 6-2 lead over Benedictine before the Ravens went on an 8-0 run to erase their deficit and take a 10-6 lead in the match-deciding set. Taea Kapels held serve during the Ravens rally recording the final of her team-high five aces to put the Ravens in front 8-6. Paxton Throne put the match away recording her second ace of the match to give the Ravens the win.
The first set of the match set the tone for the night. MNU used a .419 attack percentage to earn a 28-26 win over Benedictine. The Ravens rallied to take the second set, 25-21 and then pulled in front with a 25-15 set three win as they held the Pioneers to just eight kills with 11 attack errors.
Both teams finished with 11 kills in the fourth set as the Pioneers pushed the game to five sets. After Benedictine controlled the third set, MNU jumped out to 10-4 lead in the fourth set. Despite the early lead, the Pioneers allowed the Ravens back in the set. Benedictine pushed ahead 17-14 before four errors by the Ravens allowed the Pioneers to push back ahead as they earned the two-point win on the Ravens final attack error of the set.
Benedictine finished the match with 57 kills as they finished the match hitting .183. Three Ravens finished in double figures on the attack. Fleur Wesselink led the way with a match-high 22 kills hitting .242. Elizabeth Nobert finished with 11 kills while Donetta Cage added 10. Throne anchored the offensive attack with 49 assists as the Ravens finished with a total of 53 assists.
Three Ravens finished with double figures in digs, led by the 22 of Hannah Thomazin. Wesselink finished with 19 while Hailey Folkers added 19. Of the Ravens 13 team blocks, all of them were assisted as the finished with 26 block assists. Haylie Dickerson led the way with seven block assists. Nobert was right behind with six while Kate Hanson added five.
The Ravens return to the road on Friday and Saturday. They travel to Peru, Neb., on Friday for a 7 p.m. match with Peru State College before heading up to Lamoni, Iowa, on Saturday for a 2 p.m. match with Graceland University.
