SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In a contest that proved to be very evenly-matched, MSU Moorhead volleyball's hard-fought effort narrowly fell short in five sets on the road to Augustana on Friday evening.
Coming off a solid five-set performance on Tuesday night against Southwest Minnesota State, Augustana would begin the first set with momentum. The Vikings would gain an early 5-1 lead and would continue to control the early stages. Augie's lead would grow as large as four points (13-9) before a kill from
Halle Erickson pulled the Dragons close. MSUM would come to within one point following back-to-back attacks from
Brielle Riess and
Emily Ramsay.
Following the flurry, Augustana would go on a 6-1 run to rebuild the lead to six (21-15). Late in the frame, MSUM would go on a 3-0 run highlighted by a kill from the high-flying
Mya Pfeifer. Eventually, Augie would close the set with back-to-back points to win 25-21. The Dragons hit for a .143 mark in the first set.
That number would improve in a second set that saw the teams trade blows in the early points. Five different Dragons would score kills as neither team could gain an advantage with the score knotted at 13 points.
Abby Thompson had a pair of kills through the first 15 points for MSUM.
The Dragons would then jump out to a 6-1 run of their own to lead, 19-14. Erickson and Thompson scored three more kills while
Kiara Olesch dropped in a service ace. Another kill from Pfeifer would give MSUM its largest lead of seven points (23-16). Although Augie would come within two points, an untimely service error scored a win for MSUM. The Dragons hit for an improved clip of .225 in the set.
Entering the third set, both teams would show how evenly matched the schools were, trading punches again. A block solo from Pfeifer helped MSUM lead by one point, 13-12. As the Vikings would gain a small lead again,
Amanda Lisi earned a service ace to even the count at 17 points. Unfortunately for the Dragons, Augie would hit a 4-0 run thereafter to take command of the scoreboard. The Vikings would come to within set point, leading by five points (24-19).
MSUM would show its patented resiliency late in the set behind a 3-0 run with back-to-back kills from Riess and and another from Pfeifer. However, similar to the set before it, a service error would sour the comeback with the Vikings winning 25-22.
In a deciding fourth set, Augustana would move in front, beginning the set on a 6-2 run. MSUM would respond again, evening the score at six after a kill from Ramsay and another ace from Lisi. Both squads would go back and forth again with the home team holding small advantages of no more than three points. A service ace from Olesch would bring the score to a 14-14 tie.
Tied at 20 points, Augustana would turn in a needed 3-0 run to force a Dragon timeout. With their backs against the wall on the road, MSUM showcased its true grit. Riess would spark the Dragons with a kill out of the timeout. Erickson and Pfeifer would follow suit to help bring the Dragons to set point, leading 24-23. The Erickson-Pfeifer duo would team up to turn away a Viking attack as MSUM would steal the frame, 25-23.
To begin the unforgiving fifth set, Erickson and Pfeifer would again score a block assist to put MSUM up 3-1. Erickson would mark her 10
th kill of the game shortly thereafter to force a Viking timeout with MSUM leading 5-2. As was customary all evening, Augustana would proceed to tie the set at seven.
Emily Ramsay would initiate the net switch in the ensuing possession with her 10
th kill of the match.
Augustana would eventually work towards an 11-10 lead that forced a Dragon timeout. MSUM would continue to even the score following kills from Pfeifer and Thompson. With the score tied at 13, Augustana would take the set after a kill and block solo. Four Dragons registered 10 or more kills while Ramsay and
Annalise Wilson logged double-doubles for MSUM.
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Up Next
The Dragons (5-5, 0-2 NSIC) play on the road tomorrow afternoon in a 2 p.m. tilt with fourth-ranked Southwest Minnesota State.
