Minnesota State got things started downing UW-Parkside, 3-0 (25-21, 28-26, 25-22). After trading points to open the match, the Mavericks snatched their first lead of day following a Ranger attack error to make the score 8-7. Minnesota State then stretched its advantage to five, 14-9, forcing a UW-Parkside timeout after a
Morgan Olson kill. The Rangers attempted to make a late surge pulling within three, 23-20, but the Mavericks held firm to secure the 25-21 win.
In the second frame, UW-Parkside jumped out to 6-2 advantage forcing an early Minnesota State timeout. The Rangers kept the foot on gas doubling up the Mavericks, 12-6, by the midpoint of the set. Minnesota State fought back to lock the stanza at 20 after an
Alivia Garbe kill. Both teams then exchanged points until Minnesota State rattled off two clutch kills from
Sydney Powell and
Megan Hulscher to seal the 28-26 victory and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third and final set, both teams traded points to lock the frame at 17. Minnesota State then built its largest lead of the set, 23-19. The Rangers once again made a late surge with a 3-0 run cutting the Maverick lead down to one, 23-22. The Minnesota State defense held strong after Ranger bad set and attack error to seal the frame, 25-22, and win the match, 3-0.
Minnesota State held the edge in assists (39-38) and digs (45-41) while UW-Parkside had the advantage in kills (41-40).
Powell registered a team-best nine digs to go along with eight kills. Redshirt freshman
Ashton Lee also contributed eight kills with five digs and team-high three blocks. Junior
Autumn Risch rounded out the top performers with 20 assists.
In match two, Minnesota State fell to Wayne State, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-22). The Mavericks tied the opening set at seven after back-to-back kills from Powell and Lee. Minnesota State went on to take its first lead, 10-9, after a Wayne state attack error. The Mavericks then stretched their edge to four, 14-10, after a Lee service ace. Wayne State clawed its way back on 6-1 run to steal the lead, 16-15. The teams traded points and locked the frame three times before the Warriors pulled away to win the set, 25-20.
Both teams exchanged points until Wayne State built a 17-13 edge forcing Minnesota State to burn a timeout. The Mavericks fought back to pull within two, 18-16, after two attack errors by the Warriors. Minnesota State continued to apply pressure drawing within one, 22-21, after a
Jackie Jones kill. However, the Warriors went on to close out the frame with three straight points, 25-21, and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third and final set, Minnesota State stole the momentum early with a 10-5 edge following a block from Hulscher and
Anissa Janzig. Wayne State responded with a 5-0 run to tie the frame up at 11. The Warriors then began to take control establishing a three point, 16-13, edge after a pair of kills and an attack error. Wayne State went on to win the frame, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.
The Warriors held the edge in kills (45-35), assists (43-33), and digs (40-27).
Garbe set the pace for the Mavericks with 11 kills and .375 hitting percentage. Freshman
Micayla Porter registered a team-high 15 assists while freshman
Mara Quam contributed a team-best nine digs.
Minnesota State (1-1) returns to action tomorrow against Gannon and Ohio Dominican. First serve is set for 10:15 a.m., and 2:45 p.m. (CST)
