MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead volleyball saw competitive sets throughout an NSIC tilt with #19 Minnesota Duluth on Tuesday evening. However, the visiting Bulldogs would secure three straight sets over the Dragons.
The Bulldogs would jump out of the gates with some potent offense, securing an early 8-3 lead. Minnesota Duluth would lead by as many as six points (14-8) before the Dragons began to whittle the deficit. Moorhead would get back within three points (16-13) thanks to a kill-block combo from
Ava Wild. The Dragons would take advantage of several Bulldog service errors, getting within two points after a kill from
Ruby Bones. Minnesota Duluth would go on score three straight to land at set point, leading 24-19. The Bulldogs would win the first set 25-20.
Moorhead gathered a small lead to begin the second set thanks to a pair of kills from
Raiah Mandell as well as an ace from
Ellie Keuseman. Minnesota Duluth would respond, jumping up 8-5. MSUM would provide a response of their own, scoring four straight points to regain a one-point lead (10-9). Wild and Mandell would team up for a pair of kills with
Madi Colby delivered a service ace. The Dragons would continue to hold a one-point lead midway through the set after another three-point run. Wild scored another kill with
Brooke Gillingham chipping in a service ace. Both teams would trade points from there, landing at a 20-point gridlock. MSUM would score three straight points to take a 23-21 lead.
Maci Martini, Mandell and Colby all secured kills as the Dragons took the lead. While the teams would sit tied at 24 points, Minnesota Duluth would rally for two straight points to win 26-24.
In the third set, the Bulldogs would lead 6-3 early as Moorhead struggled to find a rhythm on both ends of the net. Minnesota Duluth would lead 13-9 midway through the set before MSUM pulled within two points.
Leah Laqua would add a kill in the stretch for Moorhead. However, Minnesota Duluth would jump back in front by seven points (20-13) as the set neared a conclusion. Moorhead would get as close as six points, but the Bulldogs would take the deciding frame, 25-16. Mandell led the Dragons with 10 kills while Wild had seven spikes and a pair of block solos.
Up Next
MSUM (10-6, 3-4 NSIC) is back on the road for a pair of NSIC matchups against St. Cloud State and Minnesota State. The weekend begins with the #15 Huskies on Friday at 6 p.m.
