MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead volleyball would begin NSIC play on Friday evening as the Dragons were faced with a tall task in eighth-ranked Wayne State College. While the Dragons fought in the middle sets, the Wildcats would take the match in four.
Wayne State would quickly showcase why they are one of the top programs in Division II as they would rush out to a 10-2 lead to begin the match. The Wildcats would continue their strong start by stretching out the lead to 14 points (21-7) late in the frame. Wayne State would connect on their attacks at an incredible .444 clip in the first set to take it 25-9. MSUM would hit for a -.067 mark in the frame, led by a pair of kills from
Brielle Riess.
The Dragons would completely regroup heading into the second set as it was MSUM who would pull in front early, 4-1. MSUM would hold the momentum throughout the set thanks to great efforts from Riess and fellow freshman
Mya Pfeifer. Riess and Pfeifer would combine for 11 kills in the frame while the Dragons were more efficient with their attacks, hitting for a .390 clip in the set. The Dragon defense would stiffen up a bit as well, dropping Wayne State's success rate on attacks to a .200 mark. MSUM would win the set 25-18. A kill from
Halle Erickson snuffed out a late 4-0 Wildcat run to cap the frame.
The second set victory is MSUM's first against Wayne State since November 11, 2016.
Wayne State would awaken again in the third set following the loss, stretching out an 11-3 lead to begin the third frame. That Wildcat lead would balloon to 10 points (18-8) before MSUM began to stir. The Dragons would rattle off a 4-0 run to bring the count to 20-14 behind kills from Riess and
Abby Thompson. Riess would strike again, followed by a service ace from Thompson to trim the Wayne State lead to five points (22-17). While that lead would hold true as set point loomed, the Wildcats would win the frame, 25-19.
Much like the opening set, Wayne State would impose themselves in a deciding fourth set, but not before MSUM would match the Wildcats at every turn to begin the frame. The teams would work towards an 8-8 tie before Wayne State would rattle off 10 consecutive points. The Dragons would snap the run after a kill from
Raiah Mandell, but Wayne State would respond with a 4-0 burst. Wayne State would close down the set as MSUM would only come as close as 12 points in a 25-11 set loss.
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MSUM (5-4, 0-1 NSIC) will take to the road once again next weekend for matches with Augustana and Southwest Minnesota State. The weekend begins against the Vikings in a 6 p.m. tilt on Friday.
