DALLAS, Texas – Minnesota State Moorhead completed the first weekend of the 2025 regular season unblemished on Saturday at the Dallas Classic. Moorhead would open the day with a four-set win over Southwest Baptist before capping the weekend with a reverse sweep of tournament host (RV) Dallas Baptist.
It is the first time since 2019 that a Dragon outfit has started a flawless 4-0.
Dragons 3, Bearcats 1
Sophomore
Brielle Riess paced the Dragons in the first set, beginning the contest with a kill as well as three service aces. The outburst from Riess (and an additional kill from
Raiah Mandell) helped MSUM create a 6-1 lead. Moorhead would hold a lead as large as nine points later in the set after a slam from senior
Jocelin Feutz and a block solo from
Mya Pfeifer.
The early advantage proved valuable for the Dragons as the teams moved into the latter portion of the frame. As Southwest Baptist made a run to cut the Dragon lead to three points (23-20), another kill from Riess had the Dragons at set point. A
Ruby Bones kill would clinch a 25-21 set win for MSUM.
In the second set, the exact opposite would occur as the Bearcats raced out to a quick 6-1 lead. From there, MSUM would work back into the game thanks to several Southwest Baptist errors. Nearing the midway point of the frame, MSUM only trailed by one point (12-11) as the Bearcats had six errors to that point. Southwest Baptist would rally from there, scoring six straight points to lead 18-11. The Bearcats would use that burst to claim the set 25-16.
The third set would see the Dragons playing from behind in the early stages as the Bearcats led 7-4. A kill from Mandell and another Southwest Baptist error helped MSUM pull to within one point (9-8). The Dragons would regain the lead a few rallies later after a kill from Bones. While the teams would trade points back and forth from there, MSUM would claim a three-point lead after three Bearcat errors. Southwest Baptist would eventually tie the set at 20 points each before the Dragons rattled off five straight points.
Leah Laqua led the charge with a kill, followed by a block solo. A block from Riess and a kill from Mandell gave the Dragons a 25-20 win.
MSUM would race out to a 10-3 lead in the fourth set, using a service ace from
Maci Martini to jumpstart the offense. The Dragons would keep their lead at seven points midway through the frame after a kill from Riess. Moorhead would not look back from there as they would not let their lead dip below seven points. A kill from setter
Madi Colby capped a 25-17 set win for the Dragons, clinching the match in four sets. Riess finished the match with a double-double of 11 kills and 16 digs.
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Dragons 3, (RV) Patriots 2
The Patriots would quickly grab a four-point lead before the Dragons responded to eventually tie the first set at 10 points, A service ace from
Kiara Olesch highlighted a back and forth stretch for both teams. The teams would sit tied at 16 points before Dallas Baptist was able to push in front by four (22-18). MSUM would come as close as three points after a kill from Bones, but would drop the set, 25-20.
While the Patriots would hold a small lead to begin the second set, MSUM would hang around. Just as the Patriots built a four-point lead, the Dragons would pull back within one point after an ace from Riess, followed by kills from Mandell, Laqua and
Jadyn Feist.
Amanda Lisi would drop in a service ace to knot the score at 13 points before a DBU error gave Moorhead its first lead. The flurry forced a Patriot timeout with the Dragons leading, 14-13.
Both teams would trade points from there with the squads gridlocked at 17 points. A short offensive burst from the Patriots gave them a two-point lead (20-18), forcing a Dragon timeout. MSUM would cut the lead to one out of the break before Dallas Baptist rattled off five straight points, winning 25-19.
A resurgent Dragon effort helped them build a sizable advantage in the third set. A three-point swing after a kill from Riess, a block from Pfeifer and an ace from Laqua had the Dragons up six points. MSUM would use that stretch to eventually build an 11-point advantage (20-9). Feist and Riess would lead the attack while Laqua picked up a pair of block assists. To conclude the set, the Dragons would outscore the Patriots 5-2 to earn a 25-11 set win.
Moorhead would utilize the momentum as the fourth set commenced, going on a 7-2 run to lead 9-5 early on. The burst included a stretch of four straight points with kills from Riess and Laqua as well as an ace from Olesch. While MSUM would hold a lead as large as four points, DBU would cut that lead in half midway through the set (15-13). Yet again, the Dragon defense made a difference, earning back-to-back blocks with Laqua assisting on each. The efforts capped a 4-0 Dragon run, pushing their lead to six points. MSUM remained in control from there, winning 25-20 and moving the match to a fifth set.
Both teams would play an even opening to the final frame with the teams tied at five points. A kill from Feutz would have the Dragons up one point as the set neared a conclusion (9-8). The attack allowed the Dragons to take a three-point lead (11-8) in the race to 15 points. However, the Patriots would come back to tie the set at 13 points each, forcing a Dragon timeout. Out of the timeout, the teams would remain gridlocked at 14 points before a kill from Laqua and a block from Mandell secured the match. Laqua was electric in the reverse sweep victory, tallying 13 kills and six total blocks. Riess also filed away her second double-double of the day with 17 kills and 20 digs.
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Up Next
MSUM (4-0) will compete again next weekend as part of the Washburn Invitational in Topeka, Kan. The four-game tournament begins with a matchup against William Jewell on Friday, September 12 at 1 p.m.
