MOORHEAD, Minn. – Minnesota State Moorhead volleyball put together a spirited effort against second-ranked Wayne State on Friday night,. The Dragons took a set from the Wildcats before ultimately falling 3-1 (28-26, 25-11, 18-25, 25-16) at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse.
The Dragons showcased their offensive firepower against one of the nation's top teams, finishing with 54 kills and a .300 hitting percentage. Wayne State (23-1, 14-0 NSIC) countered with 61 kills and a .309 hitting percentage to secure the victory.
MSUM came out swinging in the opening set, hitting an impressive .371 with 16 kills. The Dragons battled the Wildcats point for point in a tightly contested frame, but Wayne State edged out a 28-26 victory to take the early lead.
The Wildcats found their rhythm in the second set, hitting .424 to claim a 25-11 win and move within one set of the match. However, the Dragons responded with an emphatic third-set performance.
MSUM recorded 14 kills while hitting .323 in the third, putting pressure on the Wildcats throughout the frame. The Dragons pulled away for a 25-18 victory, extending the match and energizing the home crowd.
Wayne State regained control in the fourth set, hitting an outstanding .516 with 17 kills to close out the match, 25-16.
Raiah Mandell led the Dragons with 11 kills while hitting .375. Ava Wild and Mya Pfeifer added 10 kills apiece, with Pfeifer delivering an exceptional .563 hitting percentage. Maci Martini and Brielle Riess chipped in nine kills each.
Madi Colby paced the offense with 24 assists, while Brooke Gillingham added 18 assists. Defensively, Wild, Leah Laqua and Pfeifer each recorded four blocks, helping MSUM finish with a commanding 9-4 advantage in total blocks. Ellie Keuseman led the Dragons with 10 digs, while Kiara Olesch and Martini contributed nine apiece.
Wayne State was led by Delaney Miller's 19 kills, while Chloe Hanel added 14 and Channatee Robles finished with 13. The Wildcats also received 51 assists from Molly Romano.
Up Next
MSUM (11-12, 4-10 NSIC) is set to host Augustana tomorrow afternoon inside Nemzek Fieldhouse. First serve is slated for 3:30 p.,.
