Box Score
MOORHEAD, Minn. --- Four players had 11 kills or more to help the Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team to a 25-22, 25-27, 25-12, 25-16 win over St. Cloud State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM improved to 13-12 overall and 5-11 in the NSIC with the win, while St. Cloud State fell to 6-18 overall and 2-14 in the league.

Sophomore Annie Palmquist paced a balanced Dragon attack with 12 kills and a .478 hitting percentage. Seniors Heidi Lensing and Meredith Egeland and sophomore Maggie Gruber each had 11 kills. Setters Anna Olson and Casie Baer each dished out 26 set assists, while senior Katy Ness had a match-high 25 digs.

In addition to their hitting, the Dragons also dominated with the defense at the net, recording 16 team blocks. Freshman Kaitlin VanWinkle had 12 block assists while Gruber had 10.

MSUM outlasted the Huskies in the first set, which saw 15 ties and 11 lead changes. The Dragons faced a 20-19 deficit before scoring three straight points -- with VanWinkle and Gruber each recording a kill and block assist -- to take a 22-20 lead. St. Cloud State was within 23-22, but back-to-back kills from Egeland helped MSUM secure a 25-22 win.

The Dragons faced a big deficit in the second set -- trailing 20-11 at one point -- before mounting a furious rally in the closing moments. They were down 24-16 before scoring eight consecutive points -- with VanWinkle and Gruber each supplying five block assists -- to tie the set at 24-24. MSUM was tied at 25-25, but St. Cloud State scored the final two points to earn a 27-25.

While the Dragons didn't come back to win the second set -- the rally mounted late did re-establish their momentum heading into the third set.

Leading 10-6, MSUM went on an 11-4 run to push the lead to 21-10. Lensing had three kills while Egeland had two to help the Dragons pull away. Moments later, a kill from Palmquist sealed a 25-12 Dragon victory and 2-1 lead in the match.

The fourth set was tied at 10-10 before a 4-0 run helped MSUM take a 14-10 lead. A kill from Gruber and a service ace from VanWinkle highlighted the spurt.

The Dragons held a 15-12 lead but outscored the Huskies 10-4 the rest of the set to wrap up a 25-16 win.

VanWinkle added seven kills, while sophomore Amanda Feils contributed five off of a .455 hitting percentage. Freshman Amber Krenske addded 12 digs.

MSUM is back in action on Thursday at Mary. The match begins at 7 p.m. in Bismarck, N.D.

Note: Senior Katy Ness (pictured below with Coach Tammy Blake) was honored prior to the match for recording her 2,000th career dig, which she accomplished against Augustana on Oct. 19.