VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The Valley City State volleyball won its home opener over the University of Winnipeg Friday as the Vikings split a pair four-set matches at its own VCSU Invite.
The Vikings defeated the University of Winnipeg 25-22, 20-25, 25-18 and 25-20 in its own Graichen Gym, expanding its winning streak to six games. The Vikings then opened strong against an undefeated Montana Western team in front of a loud home crowd but ultimately in four sets, 12-25, 27-25, 25-20 and 25-22.
VCSU is now 9-3 overall and plays two more games on Saturday to round out the home invitational. The Vikings will play Montana State-Northern at 12 p.m. and (RV) Dakota Wesleyan at 5 p.m.
VCSU 3, Winnipeg 1
Valley City State won its home opener in four sets with the help of a season-best 13 total blocks against the University of Winnipeg.
Morgan Freije led the way with a career-high seven blocks (5 assisted, 2 solo), paired with 10 kills in the match.
Bailey Nelson totaled 15 kills and
Emma Lucas chipped in 12 kills and four blocks at the net.
Sadie Hansen continues to contribute all-around for the Vikings as she finished with 46 set assists, 11 digs, four kills and three blocks.
JayCee Richter finished with 12 digs and
Reagan Bogenreif added 11.
VCSU and Winnipeg opened with its closest match in the first set, with VCSU only pulling away late with four of the final five points and securing the set on a Lucas kill.
The Wesmen then took set two after pulling away early with a 16-11 lead. A kill from
Bailey Nelson would spark a 6-2 run to help the Vikings get back into it but Winnipeg held n for the 25-20 win in set two.
VCSU was able to keep Winnipeg off their game, forcing the Wesmen into eight errors in each of the final two sets. VCSU finished the third set on a 6-1 run and secured the win with a service ace by
Delani Clarke. The Vikings then rounded out the match on a 4-1 run and put the match away with a
Morgan Nelson kill.
Montana Western 3, VCSU 1
The Vikings opened strong in the second match of the day with a decisive 25-12 victory over the Bulldogs, but dropped the next three to Montana Western.
The second set remained close as neither team would let up down the stretch, but Montana Western took four of the final five points to lock in the 27-25 victory.
The Bulldogs wouldn't let up as they posted 19 kills in each of the next two sets, hitting .359 and .326 en route to a pair of victories. The Vikings made a late 7-3 run capped by a
Danielle Hagler kill to close the set three gap to trail 21-20, but Montana Western held on to take the final set 25-22.
VCSU relied on its defense to battle with a strong hitting team as Richter led three Vikings in double figures with 22 digs. Clarke added 17 digs while Bogenreif chipped in 12.
Offensively, Freije tallied 10 kills while hitting .400, and Hagler finished with nine kills.
Morgan Nelson and
Bailey Nelson recorded eight kills apiece.
Lexi Leroux finished with a game-high four service aces for the Vikings.
Hansen finished with 41 set assists and seven kills in the match.
