Winona, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball (8-1, 1-0 NSIC) team opened NSIC competition by travelling to Winona to face the Winona State Warriors (3-6, 0-1 NSIC), and came away with a hard-fought victory 3-2 (25-18, 25-21, 24-26, 19-25, 15-8).

The first set began evenly as neither team found an early edge until the Mavericks pulled ahead to an 16-12 lead, the biggest of the set in the early going, behind several powerful attacks from Morgan Olson.  A few plays later an ace from Mara Quam pushed the Minnesota State lead to 21-15 forcing Winona State to take their final timeout of the set, however the Mavericks clinched the first set 25-18. 

The second set proved to be even more hotly contested with both teams remaining tied at 19 and no significant runs.  A kill down the left line by Joie Veldman put the Mavericks up 21-19 late in the second set, a lead that would not be relinquished as they finished off the set 25-21 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

In the third set the Warriors rushed out to an early 11-4 edge.  The Mavericks stormed back after a timeout and proceeded to go on a 6-3 run to force a Winona State timeout.  Despite fighting back and tying the set at 24 however, Minnesota State came up short and dropped the set 26-24. 

The fourth set saw the Warriors once again jump out to an early lead and they found themselves holding a 19-14 lead over the Mavericks late.  Winona State managed to hold onto their lead and eventually took the set 25-19, forcing a decisive fifth set. 

In the fifth set, Minnesota State quickly jumped to an early five-point lead which they maintained throughout, ultimately coming away with the 15-8 victory on an Olson spike.

In the match, the Mavericks and Warriors each recorded 63 kills, while Minnesota State recorded eight aces compared to four from Winona State. 

Olson led the Mavericks with 19 kills in the match with a .371% hitting percentage.  Lauren Lowry led Minnesota State in assists with 28 while Micayla Porter added 26. 

Saturday September 8^th, the Mavericks will host the Upper Iowa Peacocks in their home opener which will be played at Taylor Center at 7:00 p.m.