MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team swept MSU Moorhead (25-21, 25-19, 25-12 ) Friday evening at Taylor Center. 

With the win, the Mavericks gained their ninth sweep of the season and improved to 7-10 in the NSIC and 13-12 overall. With the loss, the Dragons fall to 9-16 overall and 4-13 in the NSIC. 

Minnesota State jumped out to an early 6-4 lead over MSU Moorhead following a kill by Sydney Powell. The first set saw 13 ties as both teams struggled to capture momentum. The Mavericks separated from Dragons after an Ashton Lee block to make the score 22-21. Minnesota State then rattled off the final three straight points highlighted by an Autumn Risch service ace to cap the set, 25-21.  

In the second frame, the Mavericks gained a 4-1 lead before the Dragons found an offensive rhythm with a 5-0 run to steal the edge, 6-4. Both teams then battled to find themselves locked at 15 later in the stanza. Minnesota State put together an 8-1 run of its own highlighted an Alivia Garbe kill to make the score 22-16. The Mavericks went on to take the second set, 25-19.

Minnesota State picked up where it left off in the third set by quickly amassing a 9-3 lead after a Risch service to force a MSU Moorhead timeout. Later in the frame, the Mavericks seized control of match with a 9-1 run pushing its advantage to 20-7. Minnesota State went on to win the frame, 25-12, and the match, 3-0. 

As a team, the Mavericks held the edge in kills (51-25), digs (51-41), and assists (48-24). Minnesota State also posted a .328 hitting percentage in comparison to MSU Moorhead's .103.
 
Garbe set the pace with a match-best and season-high 16 kills to go along with seven digs. Sophomore Morgan Olson and Powell both reached double-figures in kills with 10 each. Freshman Micayla Porter handed out a match-high 22 assists while freshman Mara Quam contributed a match-best 19 digs. 

Minnesota State will close out its home schedule hosting No. 7 Northern State tomorrow. First serve is set for 3:00 p.m.  

-30-