Box Score MANKATO, Minn. – The No. 20 Minnesota State Mavericks used five sets Friday night to defeat Northern State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference showdown.
 
The Mavericks broke out to a 15-9 lead in the first set thanks in large part to four early kills by junior middle blocker Jill Storlie.  MSU then used a 10-6 to close out the first set, 25-16.
 
The Wolves would even the match in the second set as it pulled away late.  With the score tied at 14, Northern State went on an 11-7 run, taking the second set, 25-21.
 
The third set was also played close till the finish, but this time, it was MSU who wound up on top.  With the score knotted at 13, Minnesota State went on an 11-8 run to give it a 24-21 lead.  After a Northern State point, a service error by the Wolves put a halt to any comeback attempt as the Mavericks escaped with the 25-22 win.
 
For the second consecutive match Minnesota State would be forced to play five sets as the Wolves took the fourth set, 25-21.  Northern State led 23-17 late in the set before MSU went on a 3-0 run to get within three.  However, from this point Northern State regained control as it closed the set by scoring two of the next three points, earning the 25-21 victory.
 
The deciding fifth set didn’t start well for the Mavericks as they surrendered the set’s first three points.  MSU responded quickly to the early deficit, however, as it scored the next four points putting it up, 4-3.  Both teams would trade points back-and-forth throughout the set leading up to a tie at 13.  Despite the valiant effort, it proved to be the Mavericks night as they scored the 14^th point on a Northern State attack error before sealing the match with a kill by junior outside hitter Chelsea Fogarty.
 
The Mavericks were led offensively by three players with double-digit kills, including two with 20 or more.  Fogarty finished with 26 kills on 67 attempts (.299) while Storlie added 20 kills on 42 attempts (.286).  Senior Alli Rice rounded out the trio with 14 kills on 41 attempts (.195).  Senior setter Brittany Stamer did her part in setting up the Maverick hitters as she finished the night with 62 assists.  The 62 assists ties for her season-high.
 
Five Mavericks finished with double-digit digs including junior defensive specialist Samantha Dale with 21, Stamer’s 18, Fogarty and sophomore setter Kelli Elhardt each with 15 and Rice with 13.
 
MSU finished the match with more kills (77-54), assists (74-52), digs (88-83) and service aces (8-5) than the visiting Wolves.  The loss drops Northern State to 12-12 overall and 7-10 in NSIC action.
 
MSU (17-8, 10-7 NSIC) returns to action tomorrow at Taylor Center as it faces U-Mary in the team’s final regular season home match.  The tilt is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
 
Box Score