BILLINGS, Mont. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team dropped a pair of matches at the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Billings, Mont., on Friday. The Dragons lost a five-set heartbreaker to Black Hills State, 27-29, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 15-8 to cap off the day after being swept by St. Martin's to open play.

The Dragons are 0-2 on the season so far.

Against Black Hills State, junior Amanda Carlson had a match-high 24 kills to pace the Dragons while junior right side hitter Teeya Doppler added 11 kills. 

Freshman setter Jordan Hein had 25 assists while freshman Halle Erickson added 22.

Senior libero Sarah Petrbok had 24 digs while freshman hitter Jadyn Feist had 16 and Hein 12. 

Freshman middle blocker Abby Thompson and junior middle blocker Elise Bakke each had nine block assists. The Dragons had 36 block assists as a team.

MSUM won a close first set 29-27, despite trailing 27-26. Carlson recorded three straight kills to close the set for the Dragons.

Black Hills State won the second set 25-20, but MSUM battled back to take the third set 25-23. The Yellow Jackets won the fourth set 25-21 to set up a fifth set. 

Feist and Bakke teamed up for a block to give MSUM a 2-1 lead, but the Dragons would not lead again as the Yellow Jackets went on to win 15-8.

MSUM opened the day with a 3-0 loss to St. Martin's by scores of 25-16, 25-20, 25-20.

 Erickson had 10 assists and four kills for MSUM. Petrbok had 14 digs. Freshman setter/right side hitter Kelly Klees had 12 assets. 

Carlson had seven kills to pace the hitting attack to go along with nine digs. Freshman hitter Summer Salettel had five kills. Sophomore defensive specialist Brooke Walthall led with two service aces.

The Dragons hit just .075 for the match compared to .149 for the Saints.

MSUM will play two more non conference matches on Saturday in Billings. The Dragons will face Montana State-Billings at 11 a.m. Central time and then face South Dakota Mines at 3 p.m. to close out the trip.