MOORHEAD, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team edged MSU Moorhead in a thriller, 3-2, (25-20, 13-25, 22-25, 26-24, 15-10), Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, Minnesota State has won three of its last four contests and improves to 9-6 overall and 3-4 NSIC. With the loss, MSU Moorhead drops to 7-8 overall and 2-5 NSIC on the season. 

The Dragons snatched the early momentum doubling up the Mavericks with a 10-5 advantage. Minnesota State responded to lock the frame at 13 following an attack error. The Mavericks then took their first lead of the match, 16-15, after a block from Megan Hulscher and Ashton Lee. Minnesota State increased its advantage to three, 20-17, following a dragon attack error. The Mavericks went on to win the opening set, 25-20. Minnesota State posted a .350 attack percentage in the first stanza. 

In the second set, MSU Moorhead started fast out the gates with an 11-4 edge. Joie Veldman attempted to shift momentum back to the Mavericks with a service ace to make the score 12-7. However, the Dragons then pushed their advantage to nine, 20-11, after a block by Kaylyn Jenkins and Tyann Caspers. Minnesota State fell in the second frame, 25-13.
 
At the break, Minnesota State held the edge in kills (25-21), digs (34-31), and assists (23-21).  

Both teams competed in a third frame that saw 14 ties and three lead changes. Minnesota State locked the set at 11 after Micayla Porter set up Anissa Janzig for a kill. MSU Moorhead answered with a 4-1 run to capture a 15-12 lead. Later in the stanza, the Mavericks created a late two point advantage, 20-18, after a bad Dragon set. MSU Moorhead came back to once again deadlock the set, 22-22. The Dragons then closed out the Mavericks with a 3-0 run to seal the 25-22 win. 

In the fourth set, Minnesota State jumped out with a 7-2 advantage forcing a MSU Moorhead timeout. The Dragons stormed back to steal the lead, 9-7, with the use of a 7-0 run. Later in the frame, MSU Moorhead held a three point, 21-18, edge. The Mavericks then erupted with a 5-0 run which included two kills from Alivia Garbe to capture the lead, 23-21. Minnesota State went on steal the set, 26-24, and force a deciding fifth set. 

In the final set, both teams found themselves tied at four. The Mavericks then rattled off three unanswered points to make the score 7-4 after a Morgan Olson service ace. Minnesota State would not surrender the lead and went on to win the set, 15-10, and the match, 3-2. 

Minnesota State held the edge in kills (65-46), digs (89-77), and assists (62-45).

Porter tallied a career-best 32 assists while junior Autumn Risch contributed 20 of her own. Garbe notched a career-high 15 kills while Jones also reached double-digits with 15. Four Mavericks reached double-figures in digs: freshman Mara Quam (18), Olson (17), Porter (16), and Risch (16). 

Minnesota State returns to action at No. 6 Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 6. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m.