The 20-3 Wildcat Volleyball team has its longest winning streak of the season after beating a number of ranked teams in the past two weeks.

This also marks the 12th consecutive season WSC has won at least 20 games.

 
After the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll was released Monday afternoon, WSC is now ranked sixth in the nation. This is the 83rd consecutive national ranking the team has received, dating back to September 28, 2009, who received 960 points in voting conducted by various Division II head coaches from across the country.

 
Katie Hughes’ tenth double-double of the season helped the WSC volleyball team record win number 16 on Oct. 10 against St. Cloud State. The Wildcats won the match 3-0: 25-18, 25-20 and 25-18. WSC hit .203 in the match with 43 kills. Hughes led the team with 17 kills and co-led the team, along with Michaela Mestl, with 19 digs. Leisa McClintock had 35 assists to lead the team.

 
“[Hughes] is definitely a leader for us,” head coach Scott Kneifl said. “Not just statistically, but also on the floor. She has played in a lot of big games and she knows how to get it done. She has a sense of calm to her that really helps our team.”

 
On Oct. 17, the WSC Wildcat Volleyball team traveled to Duluth to take on Minnesota Duluth. The Wildcats won all three sets, but by less than five points each. The scores were 25-21, 25-21, 25-23.

The Wildcats hit at a .256 clip, while containing Duluth to .219. Mestl led the team with 15 digs, and McClintock led the team with 39 assists. With 18 kills, Hughes again led the team.

 
“It was a great road win for us,” Kneifl said. “It was the first time we’ve ever won in Duluth.”

 
Avenging an earlier loss in the season, WSC beat Augustana 3-1 on Oct. 20. Hughes got double-double number 11 on the season. She led the team with 15 kills and a career-high 33 digs, which moved her into the fourth in school history in digs with 1,684. The Wildcats fell in the first set 25-21, but then won three straight at 25-20, 25-21 and 25-18. McClintock had 46 assists.

 
“We have some big games this weekend that we need to take care of,” Kneifl said.

 
On Friday night WSC hosted conference opponent, the University of Mary. The Wildcats hit .242 while holding the University of Mary to a mere .055 rate. WSC won the match 3-0: 25-19, 25-13 and 25-16. The Wildcats were led by Elizabeth Gebhardt in kills with 14. McClintock led with 33 assists while Courtney VanGroningen led the team with 21 digs.

 
“The crazy thing is even the opponents without the numbers in front of their names are scary, too,” Kneifl said.

 
The Wildcats finished the weekend 2-0 by winning their match Sat. against Minot State. The Wildcats hit at an impressive .412 rate, while Hughes and Gebhardt led the team with 12 kills each. McClintock had 39 assists while VanGroningen had 18 digs to lead the team.

 
“It’s gonna get tough,” Kneifl said. “There’s gonna be some wars yet to be played. We’ve played some really good volleyball up to this point, we just hope we can finish it out the right way.”