SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team dropped two matches during the first day of competition at the Augustana tournament. MSUM dropped the opening match to Lindenwood University 25-15, 21-25, 25-16, 25-20 and fell to the host team and No. 22-ranked Augustana (S.D.) 25-18, 25-20, 27-25.

The Dragons are now 3-3 on the nonconference season.

MSUM opened the day with a loss to Lindenwood. Freshman outside hitter Amanda Carlson led the Dragons with a career-high 16 kills, while sophomore setter/right side hitter Lauren Kiewiet contributed eight kills. Freshman outside hitter Madison Wassink and sophomore middle blocker Kylie Kanwischer each had seven kills in the match. Kiewiet also added 18 assists and freshman setter Katelyn Selensky had 16 assists. Defensively, the Dragons were led by senior libero Monica Vega who had 15 digs. Junior defensive specialist Taylor Thorson followed closely with 11 digs, and Selensky added 10 digs. At the net, Kanwischer had five blocks and Carlson had four blocks.

In the first set, Lindenwood University jumped out to an early lead and never looked back taking the opening set 25-15. The Dragons fought back in set two and tied the score at 5-5 off an ace by Selensky. The teams traded points before MSUM went on an eight-point scoring run the featured three kills from Carlson and an ace from Taylor Thorson. A kill from Wassink brought the Dragons to set point, and Wassink added another to give the Dragons a 25-21 set two victory.

Lindenwood opened the third set with an 11-4 run. The teams traded points until Lindenwood served up an ace to take the set by a score of 25-16. The fourth set opened with back-and-forth play as the Dragons pulled within one off a kill from Kiewiet. Lindenwood never looked back and took the final set 25-20
In the 3-0 loss to Augustana, Vega had a season-high 23 digs, and Carlson and Thorson had 15 and 14, respectively. Kiewiet had 14 assists and Selensky added eight assists. Offensively, the Dragons were led by Carlson's eight kills, while Kanwischer and Wassink each had six. Kaylyn Jenkins was a force at the net with six blocks.

MSUM kept it close early in set one before Augustana went on several scoring runs to take a 24-14 advantage. The Dragons would not go down without a fight and put up four points thanks to a block by Kiewiet and Kanwischer, as well as an ace by Carlson. The momentum would not be enough as the Dragons fell in the opening set 25-18

The Dragons fell behind early in set two before rallying to pull within one at 7-8. MSUM would tie the set 17-17 from a kill by Wassink before Augustana would pull away for a 25-20 victory. The Dragons came out on fire in the third set and went up 5-0 with kills from Kiewiet, Carlson, and Jenkins. The Vikings went on an eight-point run before the Dragons fought back to reclaim the lead 12-11 of an ace from Vega. Facing match point, the Dragons put up a block from Jenkins and Wassink to tie the game 24-24. Augustana closed out the match by taking set three 27-25.

MSUM will close out the tournament on Saturday as they face Black Hills State (S.D.) at 11:30 a.m. in Sioux Falls