MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead volleyball was entrenched in a doozy of an NSIC match on Saturday afternoon. Ultimately, Moorhead fell in five sets to visiting Bemidji State.
Both squads proved to be evenly matched all afternoon as the first set commenced with the teams trading points. Moorhead would jump out to a 12-6 lead thanks, in part, to an 8-1 run. The Dragon defense would pace the stretch with
Ava Wild and
Raiah Mandell earning block solos. MSUM would lead by as many as seven points (16-9) after another three-point surge. Mandell and
Mya Pfeifer would add kills while
Ellie Keuseman earned a service ace. The Beavers would storm back into the frame, eventually landing at a 19-point tie. Bemidji State would continue a strong run to reach set point, leading 24-20. However, Moorhead would rally right back to even the count at 24 thanks to four straight spikes from Mandell. The teams would go beyond the 25-point threshold, but Bemidji State would swipe the stanza, 29-27.
Set two would see more of the back and forth volleyball from the first set. The teams would trade points the entire set, landing at a 20-point tie late in the frame. Bemidji State would take a 21-20 lead before the Dragons scored on five straight rallies. Mandell and
Brielle Riess would spike kills while
Brooke Gillingham clinched the set with two service aces. The third set would see Bemidji State take a small lead early before the teams traded haymakers again. Bemidji State would lead 16-12 before Moorhead scored three straight to pull within one point. The Beavers would respond with four straight points to push their lead back to five points (21-16). While MSUM would get back within two points, Bemidji State would claim the frame, 25-21.
Moorhead would utilize a 6-1 run early in the fourth set to take a 14-9 advantage.
Maci Martini would lead the Dragon offensive charge with a kill and a service ace in the flurry. The Dragons would continue to hold a narrow lead as the set reach crunch time. Bemidji State would do another good job of battling late, eventually tying the stanza at 24 points. However, Moorhead would send the match into a fifth set thanks to back-to-back points. Wild and Pfeifer would score consecutive kills to keep the Dragons alive.
Bemidji State would create a small cushion in the deciding fifth set, leading 9-6 after a four-point run. The Dragons would get back within one point before the Beavers separated themselves for good. Bemidji State would capture the fifth set, 15-10. Mandell led the Dragons with 18 kills (matching her career-high) as well as three block solos. Martini collected another double-double, scoring 11 kills with 11 digs. Setters
Madi Colby and Gillingham each secured double-double showings while Colby set a new career high in assists (36).
Up Next
MSUM (10-5, 3-3 NSIC) remains at home as they look towards a Tuesday tilt with Minnesota Duluth.
