Aberdeen, S.D. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team (18-11,11-10 NSIC) fell short against #5 Northern State Wolves (26-3, 18-3) Tuesday evening, by a score of 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 25-16, 24-26, 15-10 ) in the opening round of the NSIC Volleyball Championships. 

In the first set the Mavericks gained an early edge that they held throughout the set.  Behind nine kills from Morgan Olson Minnesota State took the first set 25-22 to take a 1-0 lead in the match. 

The second set saw the Wolves turn the tables and hold an early advantage throughout.  Taking advantage of a couple of service errors, Northern State took the set 25-18 to tie the match at 1-1. 

In the third se the Wolves built on the momentum gained in the second and jumped out to an early 10-3 lead.  The Mavericks couldn't close the gap in the set and ultimately fell 25-16 to give the Wolves a 2-1 lead. 

The fourth set was much tighter from the outset.  The largest lead held by either team was three throughout the set it was tied at 22 late.  The Mavericks capitalized late and took the set 26-24 to force a decisive fifth set.

The Wolves got the early edge in the fifth set and maintained a 2-3 point lead throughout.  Despite a late push from the Mavericks, Northern State held on and won 15-10, taking the match 3-2

The Mavericks earned 63 kills in the match compared to 62 from the Wolves but errors ultimately proved the difference.  Minnesota State committed six service errors compared to two from Northern State, and committed 30 attack errors compared to 23. 

Olson led all players in the match with 18 kills and added five digs and four blocks.  Alivia Garbe was second on the team with 14 kills and was the team leader in digs with 26.  Micayla Porter led the Mavericks with 30 kills in the match.

The loss ends an impressive building season from the Mavericks, a season where the team flipped its conference record from 9-11 to 11-9, in the competitive NSIC.