SIOUX CITY, IOWA – The Valley City State University volleyball team secured its 20^th win of the season after the Vikings split a pair of non-conference games on the road Saturday. VCSU fell 0-3 to Morningside University and then defeated Buena Vista in straight sets to reach the 20-win mark on the season.
 
VCSU fell in straight sets to Morningside, who is now 14-14 overall, by final scores of 25-21, 25-17 and 26-24. The Vikings then rebounded back to defeat Buena Vista 25-13, 25-18 and 25-10.
 
VCSU is now 20-6 on the season, its best record since the 1998 season when the Vikings garnered 25 wins.
 
The Vikings will return home for a pair of conference games next weekend. VCSU hosts Dakota State on Friday at 6 p.m. for Parents Night and then faces No. 18 Bellevue on Saturday at 11 a.m. for Senior Day.
 
MORNINGSIDE 3, VCSU 0
Morningside defeated the Vikings in straight sets after outhitting the Vikings with 48 kills to VCSU's 37. The Mustangs also recorded eight service aces and seven total blocks to aid the win.
 
VCSU held an early lead after opening with a 15-10 advantage. Morningside used a 10-3 run late to close the set and win 25-21.
 
Morningside used the momentum into the second set, taking an early 10-5 lead with the help of three service aces from Aureana Bernales. VCSU tied the set at 13-13 on a Bailey Nelson kill, but the Mustangs had the answer with another late 10-3 run to win the second set 25-17.
 
VCSU then turned a 7-2 deficit into a 15-15 tie on a big block from Morgan Freije and Morgan Nelson. Morningside started to pull away with a 21-17 lead but a kill from Lucas helped spark a four-point run for VCSU to tie the set. The teams held ties at 22, 23 and 24 before the Mustangs finished the set 26-24 with back-to-back kills.
 
Emma Lucas led the offense with 13 kills while hitting .462 in the match. Danielle Hagler added eight kills while Sadie Hansen posted 31 set assists for VCSU. JayCee Richter led the defense with 13 digs and Reagan Bogenreif finished with 11.
 
 
VCSU 3, BUENA VISTA 0
VCSU then defeated Buena Vista in straight sets after Bailey Nelson and Morgan Nelson combined for 19 kills and just two attack errors in the match.
 
VCSU made just one attack error in the first set, defeating the Beavers 25-13 after finishing the set on back-to-back kills from Lucas and Morgan Freije.
 
The Vikings held onto the energy and opened the second set with an 18-11 lead. Morningside edged its way back in with a 6-3 run but VCSU put the set away 25-18 on a Lucas kill. VCSU didn't let up and secured the final set 25-10 with the help of a seven point run that featured four kills by Mardi Scutchings.
 
Bailey Nelson posted 11 kills on a .409 attack percentage while Morgan Nelson added eight kills while hitting .533 without a single error in the match. Lucas and Hagler each added six kills and Hagler posted a team-best three blocks.
 
Sadie Hansen totaled 32 set assists and 10 digs, while JayCee Richter posted a team-high 23 digs in the match.