Mankato, Minn. — The Minnesota State volleyball team (12-14, 7-11 NSIC) played host to the Wolves of Northern State (17-9, 12-6 NSIC) in their final home NSIC bout of 2021. The Mavericks were not able to pull it out after a two set lead to begin the match. The Mavericks fell to Northern State in a hotly contested five set match at Taylor Center Saturday afternoon (25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 21-25, 8-15).
The Mavericks were paced by junior Jessica Nelson who tallied 23 kills this afternoon. Three Mavericks recorded double digit kills Nelson (23), Ellie Danielson (13) and Toryn Richards (15) all of which were career best marks individually. Senior Dana Schindler had 49 assists and five kills in her efforts. Defensively, the Mavericks were led by junior Brenna Hesse and senior Mara Quam with 22 and 19 digs respectively. Freshman Kiya Durant who is second in the NSIC in total blocks (102) and 13th in blocks per set (1.23) in the nation added another 5 blocks to that total against Northern.
As a team, the Mavericks hit .238 with 66 kills, eight aces, 74 digs and 16 total blocks. Northern State hit .259 with 61 kills, 11 aces, 70 digs and 17 total blocks.
Set Breakdown:
Set 1: It was tightly contested first set as both squads were battling back and forth. Neither team could find a way to string together points as they worked the score to 15-14 in favor of the Wolves. The Mavericks found a spark that was sophomore Sophie Tietz. Tietz put down a kill to start a Maverick 5-0 run that gave them separation from the Wolves with a 18-15 lead. The Mavericks would stay on the offensive attack as Nelson would get the Mavericks to set point with a kill. The Wolves would get within two at 22-24 but, the Mavericks would thwart this progress and win set one from a Danielson kill 25-22.
Set 2: The Mavericks kept the offensive pace as they began the set. The Mavericks charged out of the gates with a 5-1 run. The Wolves would paw their way within two but, the Mavericks would strike back with one of Nelson's 23 kills that started a 4-0 run for the Mavericks with a score of 14-8. The Mavericks would increase their margin by as much as 10 in this set with a score of 21-11. The Wolves would do their best to whittle it down and got to within five after a 8-2 run but, the Mavericks stood tall and closed out set two 25-18.
Set 3: With the Mavericks on the precipice of victory they needed one more set. After a kill by Richards that started a 3-0 run gave the Mavericks a slim advantage at 7-6 . The Wolves would answer with a 3-0 run of their own to regain the lead at 9-7. The Mavericks would get back to within one but, the Wolves were having none of it. The Wolves would distance themselves from the Mavericks with a 7-1 run to take a sizable lead at 17-10. The Mavericks would fight back with a 4-0 run to get within three but, it was stalled by a service error. The Wolves would continue to put down points as they got to a 24-18 lead. Facing defeat in set three the Mavericks would put down a 4-0 run to get within two but, ran out of steam and fell 25-22.
Set 4: Again, with the Mavericks needing just one more set they couldn't find a way to close it out. The Wolves started with a 4-2 run and the Mavericks turned it on and reeled off four in a row to take a 6-4 lead early. The Mavericks would tie the set up six times in set three but, were never able to overcome the Wolves. With the score 20 all the Wolves would create separation from the Mavericks for good. The Mavericks would get one more point from a kill by Schindler but, the Wolves would close out set four with a victory 25-21.
Set 5: The race to 15 was now on as both teams scored two set victories. The Mavericks would jump out to an early 5-4 lead but the Wolves would tear off a 9-1 run as they raced to a 13-6 lead. The Mavericks were not able to sustain any type of offense in set five as the Wolves eventually got the last two points to get to 15 and defeat the Mavericks 15-8 and a 3-2 come from behind win in the Match.
The Mavericks will hit the road for their final two matches of the year as they travel to Minot N.D., to face Minot State Friday November, 12th with first serve set for 6:00 p.m., Then, the Mavericks set sail down to Bismarck S.D. as they take on the Marauders of the University of Mary with first serve slated for 2:00 p.m.
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