ABERDEEN, S.D. -- MSU Moorhead owned the first and fourth sets once again on Saturday afternoon as the Dragons depart Aberdeen, S.D., with two wins following a four set conference win over the University of Mary.

The Dragons would begin the first set by gaining a quick 13-8 lead as Tori Thompson would register four of her nine kills on the day in that stretch. MSUM would command most of the set from there, eventually building that lead to 22-13 as Raiah Mandell, Maci Martini and Abby Thompson would all slam down kills in the flurry. The Dragons would finish the set earning the final three points, capped off by a Martini service ace. MSUM took set one 25-14. 

MSUM would fall in a hole in the second set as the Marauders held a 18-15 lead. The Dragons would equalize the set at 19 points apiece before the Marauders pushed in front by two points, 21-19, as MSUM looked to rally again. Bridget Witzmann earned a kill to pull the Dragons to within one (24-23) while Mary eyed set point. However, an MSUM attack error on the ensuing serve proved to be the final blow in the frame with Mary winning 25-23. 

Set three turned into an absolute humdinger as MSUM would jump out to a 10-4 lead thanks to four Mary attack errors. The Marauders would utilize a 5-0 burst midway through the set to tie the frame at 15. Both teams remained neck and neck as set point neared as a Witzmann kill helped tie the match at 20. The Marauders would go on to take a 24-23 lead, looking to go up 2-1 in the match. However, a trio of kills from Witzmann, Abby Thompson and Jadyn Feist quickly brought the Dragons a 26-24 set win.

With the match in the balance, MSUM would flex its muscles once again to take a 15-5 lead early in the fourth set. MSUM would not look back from there and would not let their lead drop below seven points. A Maci Martini kill and a Mary attack error solidified a 25-16 set and match win for the Dragons. 

Top Dragons

• Bridget Witzmann: 10 kills, 21 digs, block solo, two block assists
• Jadyn Feist: Nine kills, six block assists
• Tori Thompson: Nine kills, four block solos, four block assists
• Abby Thompson: Seven kills, one block solo, five block assists

Up Next

The Dragons (7-12, 3-7 NSIC) come home for a pair of matches next weekend against Sioux Falls and top-ranked Wayne State. The weekend doubleheader begins against the Cougars at 6 p.m. on Friday.