Aberdeen, S.D. – The Minnesota State volleyball team (10-2, 2-2 NSIC) fell to the No. 22 Northern State Wolves (11-2, 3-2 NSIC) in three sets on Friday evening. Avery Klein led all players with 12 kills in the loss, a new career high for the freshman.
 
After starting off up 6-4, the Wolves were able to keep the upper hand on the Mavericks throughout the opening set. Northern State took a 23-17 lead on a Maverick attack error. Minnesota State responded with a 5-1 run to put the score at 24-22, capped off by a block from Kiya Durant, but the Wolves ended the set with a Victoria Persha kill, 25-22. Klein led the Mavericks with five kills in set one.
 
Northern State had a lightning-fast start to set two, taking a 6-1 lead early thanks to two consecutive Persha kills. Minnesota State scored five thanks to a pair of kills from Klein, a kill from senior outside hitter Toryn Richards and a solo block from Emma Loveall. Klein's eighth kill brought the Wolves' lead to just two, but NSU scored three-straight to make the score 13-8. A Loveall kill and an ace from Madisen Miller cut into the deficit, but a solo block from Persha made the score 15-10.
 
Following a kill from Klein, the Wolves scored two more to make the score 18-11. A quick 3-1 run for the Mavericks put the score at 19-14, in favor of Northern State. NSU closed out set two on a 5-2 run to take it 25-16, putting the Wolves up 2-0.
 
With their backs against the wall, Minnesota State got up to a 4-3 start, thanks to a block from Durant and Avery Rosenberg. The Wolves went on a 5-1 run to go up 8-5. NSU had two blocks in that stretch. After a Maverick point, the Wolves went on another 5-1 run to go up 13-7. Natalia Szybinska had two kills on the run.
 
Minnesota State responded with a 4-1 run, thanks to kill from Klein and a solo block for Durant. A 5-0 run put Northern State up 19-11. Persha and Hanna Thompson combined for a block to put the Wolves back up by eight after a Durant kill. The Mavericks went on a 4-1 run, seeing kills from Emily Kern and Durant, who also had an ace from the service line. However, it was no use; the Wolves closed out the match, with a 25-16 set three victory.
 
The Mavericks finished the match with 34 kills, 32 assists, 68 digs and five blocks. MSU finished with a hitting percentage of .081.
 
Klein finished with a career-high 12 kills. She finished with six digs and hit .233 against the Wolves. Durant finished with seven kills (.273 %), an ace, five digs and three total blocks, including her solo block. Kern and Richards each finished with five kills.
 
For Northern State, Persha ended with 10 kills and five total blocks while hitting .500. Abby Brooks and Morissen Samuels ended with nine kills a-piece.
 
"We struggled to settle in and play tonight," said Mavericks head coach Corey Phelps. "They put pressure on us, and we responded in a way that we haven't yet this year. Now is the time to learn the lesson and do what we can to grow some tenacity moving forward."
 
The Mavericks continue their road trip tomorrow, as the team travels to Moorhead, Minn. to take on the Dragons (5-6, 0-3 NSIC). Minnesota State has beaten MSU Moorhead in 10 consecutive matches and is 23-4 all-time against the Dragons.