SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – MSU Moorhead rallied in a pair of competitive third and fourth sets, but the Dragons eventually fell to Augustana in four sets inside the Sanford Pentagon.
 
Augustana commanded most of the first frame as the Vikings would open up the match on a 5-1 run. From there, MSUM would bring the set to within three points (9-6) on a kill from Maci Martini. The Vikings would respond by scoring on four consecutive possessions. While Jadyn Feist and Tori Thompson would collect kills, Augie would stretch their lead to 18-9. The Dragons would come as close as eight points, but would ultimately drop the frame, 25-15. Bridget Witzmann had three kills in the set for MSUM.
 
The two teams would go back and forth to begin the second set as Witzmann slammed down three kills in a 6-point stretch with the score tied (6-6). Augustana would then go on a 6-1 run to move in front 12-7. MSUM would rally back thanks to two more kills from Witzmann and another from Abby Thompson. The Dragons would come within a point (13-12) following a service ace from Karlee Luneckas.
 
Augustana would assert a 6-0 run shortly thereafter to take a 21-14 lead. Augie would take the frame to set point, leading 24-17. MSUM would counter with kills from Witzmann and Tori Thompson, but the Vikings would close down the set, winning 25-19. Witzmann earned six kills in the frame for the Dragons. In the first two sets, Augie hit for a .406 percentage to MSUM's .176.
 
The third set would begin much like the second with the squads trading blows and remaining even at five points. A kill from Jadyn Feist and another from Witzmann would help push the Dragons towards a 9-6 lead, forcing a Viking timeout. A trio of kills from Abby Thompson helped the Dragons extend that advantage to 14-10. Freshmen Karlee Luneckas and Madi Colby proved pivotal in the stretch as the duo would assist on each of the Thompson points. Martini notched another kill paired with a Feist block and the Vikings took another timeout, trailing 16-10.
 
MSUM would gain a lead as large as 10 points before the Vikings began a comeback. Augustana would rally to bring the count to 22-19, scoring six unanswered points on the Dragons. The home team would eventually tie the match at 22 points following a pair of MSUM attack errors. Despite the run, MSUM would grind out a back and forth stretch, winning the set 27-25. Bridget Witzmann earned a huge kill, followed by a sneaky service ace from Raiah Mandell to conclude the frame.
 
The Dragons would jump out in front in the fourth set thanks to two kills from Maci Martini. Tori Thompson added a kill in a stretch that built an 8-4 MSUM lead. MSUM would only continue to build on that lead, going up 15-9. While Augustana would bring the score to within one (16-15), MSUM scored on four straight possessions to push the lead back to five. The Vikings would rally, going on a 4-0 stretch of their own later in the set to lead 22-21. An Augustana service error tied the match at 23 points. From there, Augie would hit on back-to-back kills to take the set and the match.
 
Top Dragons

• Bridget Witzmann: 16 kills, 14 digs, .214 hit percentage
• Jadyn Feist: Nine kills, block solo, block assists, .222 hit percentage
• Maci Martini: Seven kills, 16 digs
• Tori Thompson: Six kills, two block solos, three block assists
• Abby Thompson: Five kills, block solo, two block assists

Up Next
 
MSUM (7-15, 3-10 NSIC) is back on the floor tomorrow in Marshall, Minn., as the Dragons take on sixth-ranked Southwest Minnesota State. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.