BISMARCK, N.D. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the match to defeat the University of Mary, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-16 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on Saturday in Bismarck, N.D.
 
MSUM improved to 4-11 in the NSIC while UMary fell to 3-12 in the league.
 
Junior outside hitter Amanda Carlson led MSUM with 17 kills while freshman middle blocker Abby Thompson had 12 and junior outside hitter Bridget Witzmann had 10.
 
Freshman setter Kelly Klees had 41 assists.
 
The Dragons had an excellent blocking night with 24 assits, led by seven from Thompson, five each from junior middle blocker Elise Bakke and freshman outside hitter Jadyn Feist had five each. Witzmann had four and Klees three.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Walthall led with 12 digs and three service aces. Carlson had 11 digs while Klees and freshman defensive speclalist Jordan Hein had 10 apiece.
 
MSUM lost the first set 25-19 but grabbed the momentum midway through the second set. The set was tied 12-12 before the Dragons scored five in a row – which included kills from senior libero Sarah Petrbok, Carlson and Feist – to take a 17-12 lead.
 
UMary got within 24-22 but a Thompson kill finished off a 25-22 Dragon win.
 
MSUM opened on a 4-0 run in the third set which included two Carlson kills. UMary was within 10-9 but a kill from Klees, plus two block assists from Bakke, pushed the Dragon lead to 13-9.
 
UMary climbed within 23-22 late but a kill from Feist, plus a block from Feist and Bakke finished off the third set for the Dragons by a 25-22 score.
 
MSUM controlled the fourth set on its way to a 25-16 win.
 
The Dragons will play at Minot State on Tuesday at 6 p.m.