HAYS, Kan. – The Minnesota State volleyball team (4-2) won its fifth and sixth games of the 2023 season against Cameron University (1-4) and Southern Nazarene (4-2) on Friday. In their first match, the Mavericks swept the Aggies 3-0. In the team's second match against the Crimson Storm, the Mavericks grinded out a victory in five sets, 3-2.

Mavericks vs Aggies
The Mavericks won their first match of the day, defeating the Aggies in three sets. Minnesota State won their first and third sets 25-15. The second set was very back-and-forth. Cameron went on a late run to challenge Minnesota State, but the Mavericks were able to close the set out, 25-23, with a kill by Sophie Tietz.
Tietz led the team in kills with 10 and tied for a team lead in service aces along with Toryn Richards and Ellie Kline, each recording two. Richards and Emma Loveall each contributed eight kills. Kline also recorded a match high 20 digs. Junior Kiya Durant was a force defensively, recording seven blocks. Brooke Bolwerk finished the contest with 21 assists.
The Mavericks outblocked the Aggies 11-2 and had five more aces than Cameron. The Aggies committed 38 errors during the match.

Mavericks vs Crimson Storm
Minnesota State won its second match of the Tiger Classic against Southern Nazarene. The Storm started out hot, winning the first set 25-14. But the Mavericks came back, winning the next two sets, the second set 25-21. Minnesota State squeezed past Southern Nazarene in the third set 26-24. The Storm raged back in the fourth set, winning 25-22. Southern Nazarene started the set up 7-3, but the Mavericks came back, scoring five of the next six points to tie up the set. Minnesota State took momentum, scored seven of the last 10 points of the set to win the match 15-12.
Offensively, the Mavericks were led by Loveall, who had 15 kills and two aces. Bolwerk recorded 31 assists and three aces, both team highs. Emily Kern had a match high six blocks. Durant had five blocks of her own, and Richards had four blocks and nine kills. Kline finished the match with 19 digs.
"Today was a good day for us," said head coach Corey Phelps. "We took care of business in the first match and cruised." Despite the confidence coming out of the first match of the day, the second was much more challenging. "It was ugly, grueling. We just found ways to stay in it. Sophie, Emma and Toryn did great things to fuel that five-set victory in the second match."

Tomorrow
Saturday, Sept. 9, the Mavericks take on the Cowgirls of New Mexico Highlands at 10 a.m. and the Tigers of Fort Hays State at 2 p.m.