Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Mankato, Minn.---  The Minnesota State Volleyball team split on the opening day of the Maverick Invitational, defeating the University of Illinois Springfield 3-1, but falling to Black Hills State 3-2, bring its record to 4-2 on the season.
 
Minnesota State was able to take a 7-4 lead early in the first set of the day, but UIS was able to close the gap, bringing the set to a 10-10 tie. The Maverick offense was too much taking the first set 25-23. MSU was led by junior Tiana Runck (Springfield, Minn.), who tallied five kills in the set.
 
"We are disappointed with the loss, but we have to respect the fact that Black Hills State attacked the ball all night long," said head coach Dennis Amundson. "We need to learn to sustain effort better, but there is enough small things happening out there that we will be to rebound and have a strong day tomorrow, we are looking forward to competing tomorrow. We are still a young untested team, we will have some mistakes, but we will get better."
 
MSU and UIS kept it close early in the second set exchanging leads but the Prairie Stars found themselves on top taking the set 26-24. Sara Baker led the Prairie Stars in offense collecting 13 kills. Minnesota State freshman Haley Fogarty led the Maverick defense with 7 digs.
 
The Mavericks regained control of the match, jumping out to a quick 6-1 lead and didn't look back from there, downing the Prairie Stars, 25-10 in the third set taking a 2-1 lead in the match. Junior Jenna McNallan tailed 5 kills in the set while collectively MSU posted a hitting percentage of .550.
 
MSU took the deciding set, 25-12 as McNallan and Runck each posted 4 kills in the frame, lifting the Mavericks to a 3-1 victory. The Mavericks offense cooled down a bit but was still able to hit .361.
 
McNallan and Runck led the Maverick offense tallying 13 kills apiece. Fogarty led the defensive charge with 22 digs, while sophomore Ellie Van De Steeg posted a match-high 46 assists. As a unit the Mavericks hit .271 and blocked seven Prairie Star attempts.
 
Minnesota State took a two point lead early in the second match of the day, however Black Hills State battled back to tie the score 8-8 in the opening minutes. Exchanging leads was a reoccurring theme through the set, as the score showed 25-25. The Yellow Jackets offense prevailed however, taking the first set by a score of 27-25. Mavericks Jenna McNallan and Krista Hassing both recorded four kills in the first set.

The Mavericks jumped out to an early 15-9 lead and remained in control for the remainder of the second set, beating the Yellow Jackets by a score of 25-16. McNallen posted a .368 hitting percentage and led the Mavericks with 10 kills. Haley Fogarty helped fuel the defense by recording 13 digs.

Once again BHSU and MSU battled back and forth, with the score tied 12-12 midway through the third set. However Minnesota State took a 24-20 lead and ended up defeating the Yellow Jackets by a score of 25-23 to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Sophomore Ellie Van De Steeg recorded an impressive 36 assists in the set victory.

The Mavericks found themselves behind in the fourth set, as the Yellow Jackets gained a 12-6 advantage early. Yellow Jacket Caitlin Templeton led the offensive charge, defeating the Mavericks by a score of 25-16 in the fourth set and tying the match at 2-2. Minnesota State posted a .226 hitting percentage in the set loss.

BHSU won the deciding set by a score of 15-10, giving the Yellow Jackets the 3-2 victory. MSU's McNallen and Chandra Honebrink both finished the match with 16 kills, and McNallen led the team with a .364 hitting percentage.

The Mavericks return to action Saturday as they host Northern State in the final match of the Mavericks Invitational. The opening serve is set for 1 p.m.