JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Minnesota State Moorhead volleyball opened the NSIC schedule in defeat on Friday evening. The Dragons fell to host Jamestown in four sets.
Jamestown would build a narrow lead to open the first frame with both teams trading points. With the squads tied at 11 points, Moorhead made its first charge at a lead.
Mya Pfeifer and
Brielle Riess would team up for a block assist, followed by a
Raiah Mandell kill to put MSUM up two points. Those two points would be part of a 9-1 Dragon run, capped by a block assist from Pfeifer and Mandell.
Maci Martini's attack led the Dragons in the first set, scoring four spikes in the first stanza. The Dragons would secure the final three points of the set to win 25-15. Moorhead would take advantage of 12 Jamestown errors in the set. MSUM's momentum would carry into set two as the Dragons built a 9-1 lead.
Ava Wild, Riess and
Brooke Gillingham all logged kills in the early stages while Pfeifer tallied two blocks.
Moorhead would lead 19-11 before the Jimmies came roaring back. The home team would claw back into the set, eventually tying the frame at 21 points. The momentum would help carry the Jimmies to a 25-23 victory. A similar scenario would play out in the third set as the teams traded points, reaching an 11-point gridlock.
The Jimmies would put together another run to create separation from there. Jamestown would outscore the Dragons 10-2 to take a commanding 21-13 advantage. Moorhead would be forced to play catch-up from there and the lead proved to be too large. Jamestown won the third frame 25-15 behind a .387 hitting clip.
In the fourth set, MSUM would build a 10-6 lead after a spike from Riess. Jamestown would battle back near the midway point as the teams reached a tie at 11 points once again. While the Dragons would hold a lead as large as two points shortly after, Jamestown would make yet another surge. The Jimmies would regain a 22-17 lead late in the frame. A kill from Mandell would get the Dragons within two points late (24-22), but Jamestown would secure a 25-22 set victory to win the match.
Mandell led the Dragons with 15 kills while Martini and Riess each tallied 10. Martini notched another double-double with 18 digs as well. Pfeifer was all over the defensive side of the net, scoring eight total blocks. In total, MSUM had 25 total blocks as a unit in the match.
Up Next
MSUM (7-3, 0-1 NSIC) travels to Aberdeen, S.D. for a 3 p.m. match with Northern State tomorrow.
