For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Sept. 3, 2022
Subject: Volleyball 

Mavericks Wrap up UIndy Invitational Falling Against Greyhounds and Lakers
Minnesota State owns a 1-7 record  

Indianapolis, Ind. – The Minnesota State volleyball team took part in day two of the UIndy Invitational falling to UIndy (3-0) and Grand Valley State (0-3). 

Minnesota State owns a 1-7 record to start the season. 

Minnesota State began the day with a 3-0 loss (25-10, 29-27, 25-19) against host UIndy. 

 Junior Sophie Tietz, freshman Gianna Trotter, and sophomore Abigail Wolfe led the Maverick offense each with 8 kills. Junior Makayla Snow passed out 28 assists, while freshman Ellie Kline led the team with nine digs followed closely by Snow with eight. 

UIndy Greg Hegwood led all attackers with 12 kills. Sara Spalding passed a match-high of 28 assists, while Makenna Barnhart posted 20 digs. 

 UIndy never trailed during the first set as it claimed a 25-10 win. The Greyhounds went on a 5-2 run to start off the first set. The Mavericks tried to close the gap winning three points to be 10-5, but UIndy would win 15 out of the last 20 points played to close the first set 25-10. 

MSU was able to start with a two-point lead and build a six-point difference at 11-5. UIndy responded by winning three points in a row. The Mavericks kept the lead till 19-17 then the Greyhounds managed to tie the score for the first time in the set by 19-19. The lead would go back and forth up to 27-27 until UIndy finished it off with a kill and block. 

In the last set, the Greyhounds led early on by two points but the lead would change back and forth up to 12-12. The Greyhounds went on a six-point run to be leading by four points 18-14. MSU fought back with a 5-2 run to get close to the lead by one point. UIndy managed to close the match by winning the last five points in a row. 

Minnesota State finished day two with a loss against Grand Valley State (25-22, 25-18, 25-22). 

Wolfe recorded eight kills for the Mavericks followed closely by Loveall with seven and Snow had 16 assists. Kline had 11 digs for the team.  

Grand Valley State was led by Kendall Stover with 14 kills and Rachel Racquay had 21 assists. 

The Mavericks jumped out to an early 7-3 lead and keep the lead by six points to 12-6. The Lakers fought back with a 6-3 point run to try to close the gap for three points 15-12. The Mavericks would not be able to maintain the lead and the Lakers finished the set with two kills. 

During the second set the Lakers had a 6-3-point run but the Mavericks tied it 7-7 with a kill from Wolfe and an attack error from GVS. A 7-2-point run put the Lakers on a five-point lead that extended to an 18-13 score. MSU tried closing the gap, but GVS would finish the set 25-18. 

In the last set, the Mavericks jumped out to an early 6-2 lead only to see the Lakers tie the score at 7-7. The lead changed eight more times as both teams were tied at 16-16. The Lakers got the next four points with three kills of Kendall Stover but the Mavericks hit back with a 4-2-point run to be only one point behind 21-20. GVS was able to win the set 25-22 and the match.   

Coach Corey Phelps had a few words recapping UIndy Invitational: "We battled through a great deal of unexpected injuries and sickness. We are a young team with a great deal of character. I'm excited about what's in store for this season when we have everyone healthy. Despite our record at this point, we're making solid strides. four of the freshmen got a lot of playing time this weekend which was a positive experience". 

The Mavericks, who stand 1-7 for the season, continue with the first conference match against Augustana next Sept. 6 in Sioux Falls, SD. 

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