Box Score Aug. 27, 2016 Box Score
RENO, Nev. - Nevada Wolf Pack volleyball (1-2) took care of business on the final day of the North Texas Challenge, sweeping Texas State (1-2) Saturday afternoon for the Wolf Pack's first win of the season.
The Pack took down the Bobcats handily, beating them 25-16, 25-13 and 25-19. For the third straight match, senior Madison Morell led the Pack of the offensive side of things with 12 kills. The stellar senior has recorded double figures in the kill column all three matches to open the season. Not to be forgotten, however, is the performance of freshman Ayla Fresenius, who has burst onto the scene tallying 27 kills in her first three matches. The Wolf Pack rookie put the ball down 11 times in the win this afternoon. The Wolf Pack hit the ball at a much higher tick than the Bobcats, hitting .446 to Texas State's .129.
Nevada hopped out front early, taking a 4-0 lead. After the Pack's lead grew to 7-1, thanks to kills from Morell and junior Madison Foley and an ace from junior Nicole Burdo. The Wolf Pack lead continued to grow after a Bobcat timeout, and soon Nevada found themselves commanding the set 14-6. The Bobcats attempted a run, bringing the score to as close as 15-10. A kill from senior Kathryn Groenweghe got Nevada back on track and never looked back, winning the set by a commanding 25-16 margin.
Texas State's Jaliyah Bolden helped the Bobcats score the first points of the second set. Nevada answered with seven consecutive points to take charge of the court. The match was closest after a small Bobcat run cut Nevada's lead to four points, 9-5. However, a relentless attack at the net from Morell, Groenweghe, Foley and Fresenius, as well as solid defense to back them up, never allowed the Bobcats to come anywhere close as Nevada claimed the second set 25-13 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Nevada was pushed early in the third set and found themselves up by just one, 5-4. The tide quickly turned, however, as a kill from freshman Shayla Hoeft kickstarted a five point run for the Wolf Pack, putting them up 10-5. The dominate Pack performance continued as Morell and Fresenius continued to rack up their kill total, leading Nevada to a 25-19 victory in the third set and a sweep in the match.
The Texas State match closes out the North Texas Challenge for Nevada. The Pack will be back on the court Friday, Sept. 2 for the Saint Mary's tournament.
