MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team battled tough against No. 13-ranked St. Cloud State but fell short against the Huskies, losing 25-13, 27-29, 25-19, 25-21, in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.
 
MSUM fell to 3-9 in the NSIC while St. Cloud State improved to 17-4 overall and 12-1 in the league.
 
Junior outside hitter Amanda Carlson had 23 kills to lead the Dragon hitting attack. Freshman middle blocker Abby Thompson had a career-high 14 kills to go to along with a solo block, while junior outside hitter Bridget Witzmann had 10 kills.
 
Freshman setter Kelly Klees had a career-high 49 set assists while senior libero Sarah Petrbok had 16 digs. Junior middle blocker Elise Bakke had two solo blocks while freshman defensive specialist Jordan Hein had three service aces.
 
St. Cloud State won the first set 25-13, but the second set was a battle. A Carlson kill put MSUM up 24-23 but the Huskies tied the set at 24-24. MSUM also led 25-24 after a Bakke block but could not finish. The Huskies scored the final two points in a 29-27 win.  The second set featured 16 ties and four lead changes.
 
MSUM led 15-14 in the third set but scored four in a row – which included a kill and a service ace from Carlson and a Bakke block. Later in the set Carlson finished off a 25-19 Dragon win with a kill.
 
St. Cloud State led 15-13 but scored five points in a row to surge into a 20-13 lead, on its way to a 25-21 win.
 
MSUM hosts Northern State for a 6 p.m. contest on Thursday.