CHADRON, Neb. -- MSU Moorhead dropped the first two sets of the 2023 season before rallying back for a resounding five-set victory over South Dakota Mines on Friday afternoon.
In the win, MSUM head coach
Kari Thompson picks up her first victory as the Dragon leader and her first head coaching win since November 2, 2018 (Southern Illinois). It is also the 900th win in MSUM volleyball history.
The Dragons fell in the first set in a tight battle with the Hardrockers, 25-20 with South Dakota Mines commanding most of the second set en route to a 25-17 set victory. Down 2-0 heading into a potentially decisive third set, MSUM rallied to take an early 13-4 lead behind four kills from
Jadyn Feist and a pair from
Bridget Witzmann. Feist would collect five total kills in the set, finishing the set off with a slam from
Emily Skalicky. MSUM would own the third set 25-21.
In the fourth set, MSUM would once again take an early advantage, getting up 11-4 thanks to a pair of kills from
Raiah Mandell.
Jocelin Feutz and
Tori Thompson each added two kills in that stretch, forcing the Hardrockers to take a timeout. The timeout proved helpful for South Dakota Mines as they would pull the set to within one point, 16-15. MSUM would respond by going on a 4-1 run as the 20-16 lead proved too much to overcome for the Hardrockers. Like in the third set, Feist put the exclamation point on the Dragon set win, 25-20.
The fifth and deciding set would see the Hardrockers and Dragons knotted even at six points in the race to 15. MSUM would push in front 11-6 thanks to four South Dakota Mines attack errors. A
Ruby Bones kill would bring the Dragon lead to 13-7 before Witzmann brought MSUM within one point of victory with her 13th kill of the match. Another attack error on the Hardrockers would seal the comeback victory for the Dragons as they would command the fifth set 15-9.
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Up Next
The Dragons (1-0) continue play at the Chadron State College Tournament this evening with a 7 p.m. match with host Chadron State.
