Ankeny High School’s all-time kills leader has become an offensive force at the NCAA Division II volleyball level.
Alyssa Ballenger pounded a career-high 18 kills to lead Wayne State College (Neb.) to a victory at sixth-ranked Concordia St. Paul on Saturday at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul. The sophomore outside hitter racked up a .472 hitting percentage, committing just one hitting error in 36 total attacks, as the Wildcats posted a 28-26, 25-21, 17-25, 25-15 triumph.
Wayne State is now 22-8 overall and 13-7 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wildcats will travel to No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State on Tuesday in the first round of the NSIC championships.
Ballenger had six kills in the first set alone during Saturday’s match. It was the first time that Concordia St. Paul, which has won nine of the last 11 Division II national championships, lost at home in more than two years.
Ballenger has compiled 273 kills, 182 digs, 46 blocks and 23 aces on the season.
