Box Score
BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Sophomore
Maggie Gruber had 11 kills to pace a balanced attack as the Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team rolled to a 25-13, 25-18, 25-16 win over Bemidji State in NSIC action Friday night in Bemidji, Minn. MSUM improved to 11-6 overall and 3-5 in the NSIC, while Bemidji State fell to 3-12 overall and 1-7 in the league.
Gruber hit .333 in 24 attempts and was one of four Dragon hitters with eight kills or more. Seniors
Meredith Egeland and
Heidi Lensing added nine kills each, with Egeland hitting a match-best .727. Sophomore
Annie Palmquist added eight kills for MSUM. Senior setter
Anna Olson dished out 25 set assists, while senior libero
Katy Ness had 10 digs.
"
Meredith Egeland had a personal-best for hitting percentage," MSUM head coach
Tammy Blake said. "It was a great win in three."
The Dragons held a 12-10 lead in the first set before breaking things open with a 9-1 run. Gruber sparked the run with three kills and a block assist, while Egeland and Lensing had kills as MSUM built a commanding 21-11 lead. Bemidji closed within 22-13, but the Dragons finished strong as Egeland had a kill, followed by back-to-back service aces from Lensing, to secure a 25-13 win.
In the second set, MSUM held a 10-9 lead before once again methodically pulling away.The Dragons scored six of the next eight points to take a 16-11 lead. Lensing had three straight kills at one point, while Egeland had two kills and Gruber one during that stretch.
Bemidji State was as close as 20-16 in the set, but the Dragons closed it out on a 5-2 run to earn a 25-18 win.
In the third set, MSUM held an 8-5 lead before a 9-0 spurt allowed the Dragons to take control. A Palmquist kill stretched the MSUM advantage to 18-6, and the Dragons were never threatened in a 25-16 win.
Freshman
Kaitlin VanWinkle had three block assists for MSUM, while Lensing had two solo blocks and five service aces.
The Dragons wrap up the weekend at Minnesota-Crookston on Saturday. The match begins at 5 p.m. in Crookston, Minn.
