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MOORHEAD, Minn. – The 4-3 Minnesota State University Moorhead Volleyball team will open conference play this week with three matchups on the road.
First, on Tuesday the Dragons travel to Aberdeen, S.D. to face the No. 21-ranked Northern State Wolves. The Wolves are currently 7-1 on the season and have won their last four matches after going undefeated in the Northern State Tournament. The Wolves breezed through the competition last weekend, winning each of their four matches in three sets. Four members of the NSU team were named to the All-Tournament Team. Preseason NSIC Player of the Year Kelsey Chambers leads a dangerous NSU offense that is averaging 15.5 kills per set as a team and is hitting .341 on the season.
Next, MSUM travels to Mankato, MN Friday night to face the 4-3 Mavericks from Minnesota State Mankato. MSU is looking to continue its strong momentum after winning two out of three matches in the Maverick Invitational. Playing in all three matches on their home court, MSU defeated Upper Iowa 3-1, lost to Wayne State 1-3, and beat Black Hills State 3-0. Three members of the Mavericks were honored on the All-Tournament team, including sophomore Krista Hassing, who leads the team in kills and blocks.
Finally, MSUM faces its toughest test so far in the young season when they face the seven-time defending National Champion Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears. The Golden Bears are 7-1 on the season and ranked No. 2 in the country, the only defeat coming to the hands of No. 1-ranked Tampa in the Colorado Premier Challenge last weekend. CSP defeated No-4 BYU-Hawaii in Colorado and also has wins over top-25 teams Southwest Minnesota State and Wheeling Jesuit this season. Two members were selected to the All-Tournament team this last weekend, including Riley Hanson who leads the team in blocks and is second in kills.
A Look Back at Last Week
The Dragons traveled south to Sioux Falls, S.D. last weekend to compete in the NSIC Challenge. MSUM faced four Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association teams on Friday and Saturday, coming away with a 3-1 record over the weekend.
On Friday afternoon, the Dragons took care of Fort Hays State in three straight sets. Junior Kaitlin VanWinkle led the Dragons in kills and blocks with 16 and six, respectively. Junior Amber Krenske led the back row, contributing 25 kills in the match. In the evening, MSUM faced South Dakota Tech. After dropping the first set 23-25, the Dragons gained momentum at the beginning of the second set, jumping out to an 8-1 lead. MSUM went on to win three straight sets and take the match. VanWinkle set a career high in kills in the match with 20, the second time she has set a career high mark in kills this season. Three Dragons had over six blocks in the match, sophomore Kelsey Hartkopf had seven while VanWinkle had six and freshman Claire Grimm had seven.
On Saturday afternoon, MSUM a match to Missouri Western in five sets. Junior Abby Wolpern set a career high in kills in the match with 22 and junior Casie Baer set a career high in assists with 38. In the evening match, MSUM beat Northwest Missouri State in four sets. Three Dragons saw double digits in kills as senior Maggie Gruber had 15, Wolpern had 11, and Grimm had 10. The Dragons lost the second set by eight points and trailed 13-11 in the third set before fighting back to earn the victory in the fourth set.
VanWinkle and Krenske Earn All-Tournament Honors
Juniors Kaitlin VanWinkle and Amber Krenske were selected to the NSIC Challenge All-Tournament Team after both having strong weekends and helping the Dragons to a 3-1 record in the tournament. VanWinkle tallied 61 kills in the four matches, averaging 3.81 kills per set. VanWinkle hit a solid .373 in 126 attack attempts over the weekend. Krenske led the back row defense for the Dragons, posting 85 digs over the weekend, averaging 5.31 per set. Krenske also had four service aces in the four games.
VanWinkle, Baer, Gradishar, Wolpern all set Career Highs in NSIC Challenge
Four Dragons set career highs during matches over the weekend in Sioux Falls, S.D. In the Friday evening matchup, VanWinkle set a career high in kills and points with 20 and 24, respectively. Setter Baer set a career high in assists against Missouri Western Saturday afternoon with 38. Junior Morgan Gradishar set a career high in hitting percentage Friday afternoon against Fort Hays State, hitting .562. Gradishar had nine kills on 16 attacks. In the Saturday afternoon matchup against Missouri Western, Abby Wolpern set a career high in kills, attacks, and points. Wolpern had 22 kills, 46 attacks, and 23.5 points. Against South Dakota Tech, she set a career high in digs with 20.
Defense Leads the Dragons
Early in the season, the Dragons have tallied five wins carried behind a strong defense. MSUM ranks 2nd in the NSIC in blocks, 3rd in opponent hitting percentage, and 5th in digs. VanWinkle has led the Dragons in total blocks for six out of eight matches this season and is averaging 1.40 blocks per set. In total, VanWinkle has 42 blocks this season. Gruber is second on the team in blocks with 18, 0.60 blocks per set. Krenske leads the Dragons in digs with 5.33 digs per set, 160 in total for the season. Wopern is second on the team with 3.37 digs per set, 101 in total.
Sullivan and Baer Splitting Setter Duties
Due to the 6-2 formation the Dragons run, senior Sam Sullivan and Baer have split the setting duties this season. Sullivan set season highs over the weekend against South Dakota Tech and Missouri Western, posting 22 assists in both matches. Sullivan is averaging 4.43 assists per set. Baer been impressive so far this season, posting 206 assists this season, for an average of 6.87 assists per season. Baer set a career high this last weekend against Missouri Western, contributing 38 assists in the match.
