MINOT, N.D. – Minnesota State Moorhead volleyball looked sharp in a Friday night road match with Minot State. The Dragons would handle the Beavers in three sets.
Both teams would remain even on the scoreboard through the first nine points of the first set. From there, the Dragons would gain a slight advantage after kills from
Raiah Mandell and a returning
Mya Pfeifer. An eventual service ace from
Amanda Lisi helped the Dragons move their lead to five points (18-13) to force a Beaver timeout. Out of the break, Minot State would pull back within two points before MSUM took control.
Maci Martini was key in the attack while
Leah Laqua would earn a block solo. Moorhead would claim the frame 25-17.
The Dragons would race out to a five-point lead (7-2) to open the second set, led by another service ace from Lisi.
Brielle Riess earned a kill in the early run while Laqua and
Jadyn Feist teamed up for a block assist, Moorhead would remain in front by five points (13-8) near the midway point after another kill from Mandell. Minot State would come back to within a point (13-12) before the Dragons surged again. Mandell hit on back-to-back kills, followed by a strike from Riess and Moorhead was back in front by five points (18-13), forcing a MSU timeout.
Out of the break, Moorhead would use its defense to remain in full control of the stanza. Laqua and Feist scored another block assist before Laqua earned a solo block in the next rally. Minot State would come as close as four points, but Moorhead would close the set after a kill from Riess, winning 25-20.
It was the Dragons who again jumped out to an early lead to begin a possible deciding third set. Again, it was the MSUM defense that sparked the run, led by a block assist from Pfeifer and Riess and a block solo from Pfeifer. The sophomore would continue to leave her mark on the match with a kill on the ensuing rally to have the Dragons in front, 6-1. Another service ace from Lisi would extend the Dragon lead to eight points (10-2) not long after.
Midway through the set, Moorhead would remain in front by eight points after another kill from Martini. Minot State would bring the score to within five points, forcing a Dragon timeout with the score at 18-13. Out of the break, Moorhead would respond, reaching match point with a lead of seven points (24-17). A block solo from Riess would seal the three-set victory for the Dragons. The win marks MSUM's 10
th of the season, solidifying an improved record for the third straight season.
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Up Next
MSUM (10-6, 4-4 NSIC) will continue its road swing tomorrow afternoon in a 1 p.m. match against the University of Mary.
