MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota State volleyball team (7-0) extended its perfect start to the 2025 season with two victories on Friday, Sept. 12, at Taylor Center. The Mavericks opened the day with a commanding sweep over Lake Superior State (0-2) before returning to the court in the evening to defeat Quincy (3-2) in four sets.
In the opener, Mary Satori delivered six service aces and 15 digs to pace a strong defensive effort, while
Avery Rosenberg added seven kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Setter
Jadyn Lester guided the offense with 28 assists. Against Quincy,
Avery Klein led the way with 20 kills and four service aces, Satori chipped in 12 kills and two aces, and Lester tallied 44 assists. Defensively,
Ellie Kline anchored the back row with 27 digs as the Mavericks closed the day with a pair of wins.
Match One: Minnesota State 3, Lake Superior State 0
Minnesota State set the tone early in the first set as Rosenberg's opening kill from Lester sparked the offense. A service ace by Kline ignited a five-point surge that included kills from Satori and Rosenberg, helping MSU build momentum. The Mavericks controlled the pace from there, with Jaelyn LaPlante delivering the final point in a 25-12 decision.
Minnesota State opened the second set with a strong start, as Lester delivered a service ace and Klein followed with a quick kill. The Mavericks capitalized on the Lakers' errors and showcased a dominant serving streak as Kline recorded three consecutive aces to propel the team to an 11-3 advantage. Rosenberg and LaPlante contributed key kills, with LaPlante sealing the set once more at 25-13.
MSU seized control early in the third set, with Rosenberg and Satori leading a strong offensive effort. Lester orchestrated the offense with precision, assisting on several key plays while also delivering a service ace to knot it at 8-4 in favor of the Mavericks. Presley Burrows and
Morgan Bjella capitalized on the Lakers' errors, and Satori's consecutive service aces helped expand the lead to 23-8. Minnesota State closed the set decisively, with Bjella's final kill securing a dominant 25-9 victory in the set.
Match Two: Minnesota State 3, Quincy 1
Quincy came out sharp in the first set, using strong serving and quick transitions to grab the lead. Minnesota State rallied midway through with a pair of kills from Klein and an ace from Kline to close the gap, but the Hawks maintained their edge. Despite a late push from the Mavericks that cut the score to 24-21, a MSU error gave Quincy the set, 25-21.
The second set unfolded with the Mavericks setting a brisk pace early on, as Lester and Madisen Miller collaborated effectively, with Lester assisting on multiple kills set up by Miller. Klein stood out, contributing significantly with four kills, including one at 24-19 that pushed the Mavericks to the brink of capturing the set. Despite Quincy's attempts to rally, which brought the game to a tense 24-21, the Mavericks capitalized on a service error from QU, sealing the set at 25-21.
The third set began with the Mavericks establishing dominance early, as Lester's service ace set the tone. Rosenberg contributed significantly, delivering multiple kills assisted by Lester, while Satori added two service aces to extend Minnesota State's lead to 10-1. Klein and LaPlante each added crucial kills down the stretch, and Kline's service ace pushed the home team to a 24-10 advantage. Despite a brief rally by Quincy, Klein secured the final point with a decisive kill, concluding the set at 25-12 in favor of the Mavericks.
Minnesota State began the fourth set with a commanding 5-1 run, highlighted by Lester's service ace and a pair of blocks by Rosenberg. Quincy responded with a series of points to take a 14-7 lead, but MSU rallied back with a string of seven consecutive points, featuring key plays by Klein and Kern, to regain a 15-14 advantage. Ultimately, Satori's decisive kill and an assisting performance by Lester sealed the set for the Mavericks at 25-19.
Following the match, Head Coach Corey Phelps praised his team's resilience, noting, 'So proud of the grit we showed today! Quincy is a very good team and to battle through that challenge and win in four is such a big step for us this season. I am looking forward to finishing the tournament well tomorrow."
Looking ahead, Minnesota State will host Upper Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 13, on the final day of the Maverick Invite. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn.
