WAYNE, Neb. – Minnesota State Moorhead volleyball found timely rallies in a Friday night NSIC bout with sixth-ranked Wayne State. The Wildcats defeated the Dragons in four sets.
Moorhead would open the first frame with a 3-2 lead thanks to a kill and service ace from
Maci Martini. While the Wildcats would later regain the lead, MSUM would keep within three points after a point from
Jocelin Feutz. Wayne State would eventually build out a seven-point advantage (16-9). MSUM would not break that margin as the Wildcats controlled the remainder of the set, winning 25-16. Martini had four kills in the frame for Moorhead.
The Wildcats would jump out to a 4-1 lead to begin the second stanza before the Dragons rallied. Trailing 6-3, Moorhead rattled off five straight points kickstarted by a kill from
Mya Pfeifer. Martini pitched in two kills while the run was capped by a block from Feutz and
Leah Laqua. The teams would trade punches from there with Wayne State gaining a 16-13 lead, forcing a Dragon timeout. Shortly thereafter, Moorhead would pull to within one point (20-19) after a kill from Laqua. Wayne State would stamp out the comeback attempt from there, going on to win the set, 25-21.
Wayne State would pick up where they left off in the third set, leading 10-5 early. Down 12-7, Moorhead would produce. The Dragons hit on another 5-0 run to tie the score at 12 points, forcing a Wildcat timeout. Martini tallied two more kills in the stretch while
Raiah Mandell was credited with her ninth kill of the match. The teams would remain gridlocked at 16 points with Laqua and Pfeifer accounting for four kills.
Jadyn Feist would score a kill to put the Dragons in front, 17-16. The set would remain tied at 21 points after another kill from Mandell.
A point from Martini would help Moorhead gain a 23-21 lead late in the stanza. Another point from Martini would have the Dragons at set point, leading 24-21. Mandell would cap the critical set for the Dragons, marking a kill for a 25-21 victory. The Dragons hit for a .326 clip in the frame to Wayne State's .174 mark.
It was the home team who again took a quick lead to begin the fourth set. Moorhead would try to cut into a four-point deficit (12-7), trailing by two points near the midway point. The Wildcats would re-extend their advantage to six points (18-12), forcing an MSUM timeout. Wayne State would go on to lead by as much as nine points (22-13), ultimately sealing the match with a 25-16 set win. Mandell marked 16 kills while Martini added 15 and Pfeifer 10. Martini added another double-double with 13 digs.
Amanda Lisi also logged a double-double of 26 assists and 10 digs.
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Up Next
The Dragons (13-10, 7-8 NSIC) travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., for a meeting with Augustana tomorrow at 5 p.m.
