ABERDEEN, S.D. – MSU Moorhead volleyball would see opportunities, but ultimately fell short on the road to 23
rd-ranked Northern State on Thursday evening. The Wolves claimed the match in straight sets.
The home team would open up the match with the offensive momentum, holding a 6-3 lead early in the first set. Four straight Dragon points would see MSUM pull in front by one as
Emily Ramsay kicked off the surge with a kill. Ramsay would cap the run with a service ace for MSUM. The Dragons would lead by two (10-8) following strikes from
Mya Pfeifer and
Halle Erickson. Later, two kills from
Raiah Mandell would keep MSUM up by two points.
Northern State would eventually tie the score at 14 before Northern State hit on a 3-0 run to lead, 17-14. The home team would build an advantage as large as five points (20-15) late in the frame. MSUM would pull to within two points after kills from Mandell and
Brielle Riess. However, Northern State would close the set on a 5-1 run to win, 25-19. Mandell led MSUM with five kills in the first frame.
The Dragons would regroup in the second set, jumping up by five points (7-2) as
Kiara Olesch would drop in a service ace. On the ensuing rally, Pfeifer would go on a surge, earning a kill before blocking a Wolves attack, forcing a Northern State timeout. Pfeifer would strike again out of the timeout to keep MSUM in front by five points (8-3). From there, Northern State would rally back behind their sensational outside hitter Natalia Szybinska, who helped pull the Wolves even at 12 points.
Both teams would trade punches from there with neither squad holding a lead of more than two points until a
Maci Martini service ace and a Riess kill put MSUM up, 20-18. A block assist from Ramsay and
Abby Thompson would put MSUM up 23-22. While MSUM seemingly had the momentum throughout the set, Northern State fought back to claim the set's final three points. The Wolves won set two, 25-23.
The third set would kick off in MSUM's favor as Riess earned a kill followed by a service ace from
Annalise Wilson. While the Wolves would go on to gain the lead (7-4), MSUM would even the score behind an ace from
Amanda Lisi followed by an absolute rocket by Riess. From there, Northern State would race out on an 9-0 run to lead, 16-7.
MSUM would put together a needed response, cutting the Wolves lead to six points (21-15). Kills from Pfeifer and Riess, followed by a Northern State error, forced a Wolves timeout. Out of the break, MSUM would be faced with match point, but would rally behind Thompson, who earned a thunderous kill and a block assist. The Wolves would secure the straight sets win a few rallies later, 25-18.
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Up Next
MSUM (7-9, 2-6 NSIC) returns home for a tilt with the Mary Marauders on Saturday. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.
