Miami, Fla.--- The Minnesota State (3-1) volleyball team split a pair of matches with a win over Saint Anselm (0-4), 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-19) and a loss to #16 over Barry University (4-0) 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-22), Saturday at the Barry University Classic.
The first set saw the teams trading points throughout until the Mavericks were able to create distance with a 5-2 run to take the set 25-21. The second set was all Minnesota State after a 5-1 run to start, and they would cruise to a 25-18 set win.
After the Mavericks opened up the third set with a 5-1 run the Screaming Eagles got back into the match with an 11-5 run of their own. Saint Anselm kept things even, holding an 18-15 lead before the Mavericks rolled of a 10-1 run to win the set and the match.
Morgan Olson led all players with 15 kills while
Lauren Lowry setup the offense with 16 assists.
Mara Quam led all players with 15 digs while
Alivia Garbe added 14 digs and 13 kills of her own.
The second match saw the Mavericks take on the #16 Buccaneers who hosted the weekends games. In the first set the Barry University serve proved devastating in building an early 10-6 lead. The Mavericks were able to tighten the match with a 3-1 run but ultimately the Buccaneers pulled away to take the set 25-15.
In the second set the Mavericks were able to keep the game tight, trailing the Buccaneers 17-15 late. Barry's defensive front clamped down as it went on an 8-2 run to claim the second set and a 2-0 advantage over Minnesota State.
Minnesota State and Barry fought for every point in the third set and no team was able to get any significant advantage until late. The Mavericks cut the Buccaneers lead to 23-22 before Barry was able to score the last two points to take the set and match.
Garbe led the Minnesota State offense with nine kills and added 11 digs while
Dana Schindler fed the offense with 20 assists.
Minnesota State will continue play travel to Louisville, KY., next week for four matches with action starting Friday at 10:30 a.m. against Christian Brothers University.
