MOORHEAD, Minn. — Led by a strong offensive attack, the Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team swept Minot State in the Northern State Intercollegiate Conference opener 25-20, 25-16, 25-19.
The Dragons improve to 5-3, 1-0 NSIC while the Beavers fell to 5-4, 0-1 NSIC.
The Dragons hit .379 on the night with 56 kills and 12 errors were led offensively by freshman outside hitter
Amanda Carlson's 12 kills, while sophomore middle blocker
Kylie Kanwischer and sophomore rightside hitter/setter
Lauren Kiewiet had 10 and nine, respectively. Kiewiet also dished out 31 assists and freshman setter
Katelyn Selensky added 15. Senior libero
Monica Vega had 15 digs on the night, followed by Carlson who added 10 digs to earn herself a double-double. Kanwischer had seven blocks, including two solos, to lead all players, and junior middle blocker
Kaylyn Jenkins had four blocks.
The only Beaver lead in the first set came in the first point of the match before the Dragons jumped out to an early 4-1 lead off kills from freshman outside hitter
Madison Wassink, Selenky, and Kanwischer. The Beavers would pull within two until the Dragons went on a six-point run capped off by an ace from Junior defensive specialist
Taylor Thorson to bring the lead to 17-10. Despite a brief rally from Minot late in the set, the Dragons won the first set by a score of 25-20 off a kill from Jenkins.
Set 2 was a game of runs as the Dragons took a 12-4 lead early. Back-to-back kills from Wassink brought the score to 16-6 before the Beavers went on a scoring run of their own. A five-point run from the Dragons late in the set brought the score to 22-13. The run featured two kills and a block from Carlson, as well as a kill from Jenkins. The Dragons closed out the set thanks to an error from the Beavers and took set two by a score of 25-20.
The Beavers led early in the third set until the Dragons evened the score 10-10 off a Kanwischer kill. MSUM gained the lead and never looked back as they went on a five-point scoring run to bring themselves to match point. A kill from Kiewiet sealed the deal as the Dragons earned a set three victory by a score of 25-19.
Up next, the Dragons travel to Bismarck, N.D. to face the UMary Marauders on Saturday at 6 p.m.
