ABERDEEN, S. D. – For the second time this season, the Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team battled nationally-ranked Northern State to five sets. The Dragons fought to the end before falling 25-19, 25-18, 18-25, 29-31, 15-12 to the No. 2-ranked Wolves in action Tuesday night in Aberdeen, S.D.
 

MSUM is now 12-8 on the season and 5-7 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Northern is 20-0 and 12-0 in conference play.
 

The undefeated Wolves have only lost seven sets this season, with four of the losses handed to them by the Dragons. MSUM is the only team to take two sets in a match from the Wolves this year, and they have done it twice.
 

The Dragons were led by sophomore outside hitter Carly Masloski who had a career-high 24 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Claire Grimm also had a career night with 16 kills along with four blocks and two digs. Senior outside hitter Kaitlin VanWinkle added 12 kills, seven blocks and one service ace, while senior middle blocker Abby Wolpern had nine kills, 18 digs, and three blocks. Senior setter Casie Baer dished out 58 assists and led the team with 25 digs and two service aces on the evening. Senior libero Amber Krenske had 24 digs.
 

After falling in the first two sets, the Dragons came out firing and took a 9-5 lead on a kill from Masloski. MSUM took their largest lead of the set at 17-10 on a huge block by VanWinkle and Grimm. The Wolves would battle back, but would not come within two points the rest of the set. MSUM took the set 25-18 on a kill from Wolpern.
 

Set four was one for the ages at it took 31 points for the Dragons to put it away. NSU took a commanding lead at 11-5 on a kill from Mandy Kurosky, before the Dragons would begin their comeback and tie the game at 24 on another kill by Masloski. From that point, there were five ties and MSUM would take their first lead of the set at point 30 on a monster kill from VanWinkle. Baer would put the set away with a kill, ending the set at 31-29, and bringing the game to 2-2.
 

The decisive fifth set was neck-and-neck before the Wolves would take a 9-6 lead on a kill from Kelsey Chambers. The Dragons would fight back, but would not get within three the rest of the set, and the Wolves would take the set 15-12.
 

MSUM is back on the road on Friday with a match at No. 5 ranked Southwest Minnesota State. The game is slated to start at 7 p.m. in Marshall, Minn.