MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team split on the final day of the Microtel and Travelodge Classic, sweeping Western State, 25-23, 25-20, 25-18 before losing to U-Mary, 25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23. The Dragons finished the weekend 3-1 in the non-conference event.

Senior libero Monica Vega and sophomore setter/right side hitter Lauren Kiewiet were named to the all-classic team.

MSUM (3-1) opened the day with a sweep of Western State (Colo.). Freshman outside hitter Madison Wassink led both teams with 14 kills and a .484 hitting percentage, while sophomore middle blocker Kylie Kanswischer added five kills on 11 swings and had four blocks at the net. Sophomore setter Lauren Kiewiet dished out 19 assists and freshman Katelyn Selensky added 11 assists. Senior Monica Vega led the team with 11 digs.

After trailing early in the first set, the Dragons tied the game at 5-5. The Dragons would add to their lead thanks to errors from Western State and kills by freshman outside hitter Amanda Carlson and senior right side hitter Ali Hasche to bring the lead to 14-10.

Carlson added two kills down the home stretch, bringing the Dragons to set point as the Dragons won the set 25-23 on a Mountaineer error.

MSUM came out on fire in Set 2 and went up 7-2 thanks to kills by Wassink and Amanda Carlson. The Dragons sparked another run off back-to-back blocks by Kiewiet and Kanswischer to take a commanding 15-7 lead. The Dragons never looked back and closed out set two with a kill from Carlson to take set two 25-20.

Set 3 featured a back-and-forth battle early before the Dragons took an 8-4 lead off of kills by Kiewiet and  Wassink as well as a solo block by Wassink. Western State fought back to even the score at 14-14 before a kill by Kanswischer gave the Dragons the lead. The Dragons scored five of the last six points, and closed out set three by a score of 25-18 off of an ace from Kiewiet.

In the loss to U-Mary, Carlson led with 11 kills while Kiewiet had seven kills, 23 assists and 17 digs. Freshman outside hitter Lexi Gilbertson had seven kills and two block assists. Junior middle blocker Kaylyn Jenkins and Kanwischer each had six kills and three block assists. Vega had 20 digs while Carlson had 15.

MSUM led 21-17 in the first set before Mary rallied for a 25-22 win. The Dragons led 15-10 in the second set but a Marauder comeback spoiled that good start in a 25-18 win.

The Dragons regained some momentum in the third set as broke open a 13-12 set with three straight points, including a kill from Carlson. A Kiewiet service ace clinched a 25-18 win.

MSUM had momentum in the fourth set, leading 21-17 after Gilbertson and Jenkins teamed up for a block. But the Marauders regained the momentum and rallied for a 25-23 win.

The Dragons will play at the Augustana Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Aug. 31-Sept. 1. MSUM will open with Lindenwood at 9 a.m. on Friday.

All-Classic Team MVP:
Maddi Vigil, MSU Billings
Izela Alvarez, MSU Billings
Lauren Kiewiet, MSUM
Monica Vega, MSUM
Sydney Murphy, U-Mary
Shelby Spuller, Minot