MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead volleyball dropped its first NSIC contest of 2025 on Saturday afternoon to visiting Wayne State College. The Wildcats defeated the Dragons in four sets.
Moorhead would begin the contest on a 5-1 run, paced by a kill from
Mya Pfeifer to open the action.
Brielle Riess and
Raiah Mandell would also stamp kills in the stretch with Riess adding in a service ace as well. From there, Wayne State would show why they are the 17th-ranked team in the country, eventually coming back to lead 8-7 early on. The Wildcats would hold a slim lead before a kill from Pfeifer tied the set at 13 points. Wayne State would then hit on a 4-0 run to push their lead back to four points. The Dragons would attempt to claw back into the frame, but Wayne State would hold on by a 25-21 count.
The Dragons would jump in front by two points (6-4) to open the second stanza before a
Jocelin Feutz kill gave the Dragons service privileges.
Emily McPhee would step behind the service line and lead MSUM to six straight points. Pfeifer and Feutz were critical in the stretch, combining for three kills and a block assist. MSUM would not look back from there, building a lead as large as nine points (16-7) midway through the set. Wayne State would come to within two points before the Dragons landed as set point. A slam from Mandell sealed the set for the Dragons with the match now tied at a set win apiece.
Wayne State would impose themselves in a crucial third set, building a 14-7 advantage. From there, MSUM would hit on four straight points paced by a block solo from Pfeifer. However, the Wildcats would assert themselves again, eventually leading 20-13 as the set neared a conclusion. Wayne State would eventually reach set point, leading by five (24-19) before the Dragons made one final burst. Moorhead scored on three straight rallies to pull to within three points before the Wildcats slammed the door.
Wayne State would use the set three win to take a commanding 11-4 lead in a deciding fourth frame. MSUM would get the score back to within five points (14-9) midway through the set before the Wildcats bounced right back, building the lead up to seven points (18-11). Throughout the rest of the set, Moorhead would come as close as five points, but Wayne State proved too formidable, as they would claim the set, 25-18. Pfeifer was solid for the Dragons all match, scoring 13 kills and four total blocks as well as a .571 hitting clip. Riess (11 kills, 11 digs) and
Madi Colby (26 assists, 10 digs) finished the game with double-doubles.
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MSUM (7-3, 1-1 NSIC) will not stay idle for long as the Dragons look towards a Tuesday night match with Minnesota Crookston. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Nemzek Fieldhouse.
