Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Golden, Colo. –  The Minnesota State volleyball team picked up two victories on day one at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic to begin its season. The Mavericks defeated Findlay in four sets (25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 25-230, before taking down Colorado Christian in four sets as well (25-23, 27-29, 25-22, 26-14).

In match one junior middle blocker Krista Hassing [Blue Earth, Minn.] began the season right where she left off from last season. The 2014 first-team All-NSIC performer recorded a match-high 19 kills and collected a sizzling .324 hitting percentage on 37 attempts and tallied three total blocks.

Four other players for MSU tallied at least six or more kills in the match. Junior middle blocker Sydney Geisness [St. Croix Falls, Wis.] posted 11 kills, along with a .318 hitting percentage and  three service aces. Junior middle blocker Courtney Anderson [Tripoli, Iowa] collected 10 kills of her own, while nabbing an impressive .529 hitting percentage on 17 attempts. Junior middle blocker Lexi Platz [Lafayette, Minn.] added seven kills to her stat sheet, while sophomore middle blocker Vikolia Meade [Solon, Iowa] tallied six kills and a .556 hitting percentage.
 
The Mavericks led throughout the first two sets of the match over the Oilers. In set one MSU forced a Findlay timeout after the Mavericks built a 16-9 lead over the Oilers. At that time, Hassing had already posted four kills while Geisness collected two kills and two service aces.  MSU went on to take the set, 25-21 over UF as senior setter Ellie Van De Steeg [Hutchinson, Minn.] posted 15 assists and junior libero Haley Fogarty [Belle Plaine, Minn.] recorded nine digs in the set.

In set two it was more of the same as the Mavericks biggest lead was 18-11 over the Oilers, before UF cut into MSU's deficit. Findlay went on a 10-4 run to cut the MSU lead to one, 22-21. However, that was the closest the Oilers got to the lead for the rest of the set. MSU took control to finish with a 25-21 second set win.

Set three MSU again took an early and was able to force an Oilers timeout, as the Mavericks built a 8-5 lead. After the timeout, the Oilers cut back into the lead and tied the set up at 9-9 with the Mavericks. Throughout the rest of the set both teams went back and forth at each other, before Findlay pulled away with a 22-19 lead over MSU. The lead was too much for the Mavericks, as they lost set three, 25-20, to the Oilers.

In the fourth and final set, MSU made sure to close the door on UF, as the Purple and Gold jumped out to an early 7-2 lead. The Mavericks wouldn't let the Oilers gain ground on them as MSU took the set and match, 25-23.

Van De Steeg ended the match with a match-high 49 assists, while Fogarty added 24 digs. Junior defensive specialist Rissi McNallan [Andover, Minn.] and freshman defensive specialist Maddie Keute [Grand Rapids, Minn.] each collected eight digs of their own in the match.

In match two of the day against Colorado Christian, Hassing added to her stellar day as she tied her career-high of 20 kills and also added six total blocks. Geisness tallied 13 kills, seven digs and four total blocks, while Platz accumulated 10 kills in the match. 

Anderson also added nine kills and four total blocks to her stat sheet, while Van De Steeg posted a match-high 50 assists. Fogarty led all players in the match with 30 digs, as Keute posted 14 digs of her own in the match. 

MSU returns to action Saturday as it will take on #20 Northwest Nazarene and Pace [N.Y.] on day two at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic. Opening serves are scheduled for 1 p.m.(CST) and 7:30 p.m. (CST), respectively.