MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead volleyball showcased an incredible level of resiliency as the Dragons pushed 16th-ranked Southwest Minnesota State to five sets on Friday evening. The Dragons nearly completed the reverse sweep, but the Mustangs would rally late to take the match.
The Mustangs would lead 8-6 early in the first set before MSUM stamped a 4-0 run to take a 10-8 lead.
Raiah Mandell and
Emily Ramsay earned kills in the stretch for MSUM with the Dragons eventually leading 16-11. After another kill from Mandell, MSUM led 18-15 before the Mustangs pulled to within two points (18-16). From there, the Dragons would score on five straight rallies to get closer to set point, 23-16.
Mya Pfeifer offered up a kill while
Annalise Wilson placed a service ace for MSUM.
Unfortunately for MSUM, the Mustangs would respond with a 7-0 run to even the score at 23 points. Both teams would go beyond the 25-point threshold in search of set point with the Dragons playing catchup late in the frame. Eventually, SMSU would score two straight to win a wild first set, 30-28. The visiting team would showcase their ability in the second set, defeating the Dragons in short order, 25-9, to take a two-set lead. The Mustangs hit for a .414 percentage in the set to MSUM's .000 mark.
After the disappointing performance in set two, MSUM would bounce back and showcase an incredible amount of energy in a deciding third set. The Dragons would outscore the Mustangs 8-1 early in the set to lead 13-8. Ramsay would add kills while
Brielle Riess turned in a service ace.
Jocelin Feutz would stamp a kill as the junior would provide some meaningful minutes off the bench for MSUM. The Dragons would eventually move in front by eight points (19-11) as Riess would earn four kills down the stretch. MSUM led 22-14 late in the set before the Mustangs pulled closer as the Dragons led 23-19.
Abby Thompson would put her impression on the match, earning a kill and a block solo to wrap the set for MSUM.
The energy only continued for the Dragons into the fourth set as they would lead 9-5 early on. Riess, Feutz and Ramsay all slammed kills while
Maci Martini turned in a pair of service aces. While the Mustangs would come within two points near the midway point of the set, MSUM would still control the match's pace. After SMSU took a 15-13 lead, the Dragons responded with a 7-1 run to jump back in front, 20-16. MSUM's defense was on full display as Feutz and Thompson teamed up for a block all while the Dragons staved off seemingly every Mustang attack.
Leading 21-19, Riess would stripe a pair of kills to bring the Dragons closer (23-19) to set point. SMSU would come within two points before Riess earned a kill, followed by a block assist from Pfeifer and Feutz. The teams would head to the unforgiving fifth set with MSUM firmly in control of the match's momentum. This would hold true in the early stages of the fifth frame as MSUM led 9-5 behind kills from Riess, Feutz, Thompson and Ramsay as well as a block from Pfeifer. The Mustangs would tie the set at 12 points before the teams would go back and forth one final time.
Riess would earn a kill to help MSUM to set point (14-12) before SMSU fired off three straight points to lead, 15-14. The teams would trade punches as a kill from Thompson would even the set at 16 points. From there, the Mustangs would score two straight to win the set and match, 18-16. In the match, the teams combined for 231 digs with the Dragons turning away 12 Mustang attacks on blocks. Riess had a monster game of 27 kills and 20 digs while Ramsay offered up a 13-kill, 23-dig double-double as well. Lisi would also collect a double-double of 27 assists and 12 digs.
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Up Next
MSUM (9-16, 4-13 NSIC) wraps up the 2024 season tomorrow afternoon in a 2 p.m. tilt with Augustana.
