MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Behind a strong net defense, the Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team defeated the University of Mary in its home opener 25-19, 26-28, 25-22, 25-22 Saturday at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead.

MSUM is now 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while Mary fell to 3-7 and 0-2.

The Dragons finished with 34 block assists and 20 blocks overall.  Freshman hitter Kylie Kanwischer led the net defense with 11 total blocks, while freshman hitter Lauren Kiewiet had eight and sophomore hitter Kaylyn Jenkins had seven. Kanwischer and Kiewiet set career highs in total blocks and Jenkins tied her career-best

Sophomore hitter Courtney Selbitschka led the team with 13 kills, while Kiewiet and Jenkins weren't far behind with 12 and 11, respectively. Freshman setter Ellie Hoyt had 45 set assists, her second-highest in a match this season. Junior libero Monica Vega led the defense with 22 digs, while Selbitschka had 14 and Hoyt had 13.

Set one was back and forth until the Dragons were up 22-19 when kills by Selbitschka and Jenkins and a bad set by U-Mary gave MSUM a 25-19 win. The second set was similar until the teams were tied at 26, but U-Mary came out with a 28-26 victory. 

With the teams tied, 1-1, going into the third set the Dragons gained momentum early with six unanswered points giving them a 7-1 lead early on. However, the Marauders closed in on the gap eventually but MSUM still game out on top with a 25-22 set win. The fourth set was similar to the rest where the teams were back and forth until U-Mary was ahead 21-17. The Dragons scored seven back-to-back points, four of which were blocks to help lead MSUM to a 25-22 final set victory. 

Up next, MSUM will take on Northern State University at home, Tues. Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.