MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead had a chance to hold momentum Friday evening in an NSIC match against Sioux Falls. The Cougars used a late rally in the first set to eventually earn a three-set win.
The Dragons would control much of the early portions of the first set, building a 12-7 advantage after three consecutive blocks.
Leah Laqua would get the block party going with
Brielle Riess following suit on the ensuing rally. Laqua would turn away another attack, followed by a kill to provide the Dragon lead.
Jadyn Feist would supply some needed offense for the Dragons midway through the frame. Leading 16-13, Moorhead would earn points on three straight Cougar errors to push the advantage to six points. The Dragons would eventually hit set point after a kill from
Mya Pfeifer, leading 24-20.
Sioux Falls would turn it on from there, clawing back into the set with four straight points. After a
Maci Martini kill, MSUM led 25-24, pushing the set past the 25-point threshold. The Coo would answer back with three straight points to steal the stanza, 27-25. At the top of the second set, MSUM would again hold a small advantage of three points following a thunderous block from Pfeifer. From there, the Coo would strike on six straight rallies to regain control of the scoreboard, 10-7. Sioux Falls would eventually push that lead to five points as part of an overall 9-1 run. The Dragons would bring the score back to within one point following another block from Riess. However, Sioux Falls would tighten up their attack, eventually leading 21-16 late in the frame. The visitors took a two-set lead following a 25-19 win in the second frame.
Moorhead would again take a lead to open a deciding third set, building an 8-4 advantage following a kill from a returning
Jocelin Feutz. The teams would trade blows from there, eventually landing at an 11-point gridlock. Sioux Falls would strike on four straight points thereafter to lead 15-11. MSUM would pull back to within one after a block solo from Feutz and an ace from
Amanda Lisi. Sioux Falls would go on to lead 22-18, reaching match point leading 24-20. The Coo would claim the victory following a service ace.
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Up Next
MSUM (13-8, 7-6 NSIC) returns to Nemzek Fieldhouse tomorrow afternoon for a tilt with 17th-ranked Southwest Minnesota State. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.
