WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. – The Valley City State volleyball team went 1-1 Friday to open the season at the Keiser Viper Sports Academy Classic.
 
No. 22 VCSU defeated (RV) Indiana Tech in a thrilling 5-set season opener, highlighted by a triple-double from senior Sadie Hansen who totaled 47 set assists, 17 digs and 10 kills in the match.
 
The Vikings then fell 3-1 to Taylor University after starting the match more than an hour behind schedule. VCSU is now 1-1 on the season and concludes play at the Keiser Viper Sports Academy Classic on Saturday. The Vikings face No. 11 Missouri Baptist at 9 a.m. CT and No. 19 St. Thomas at 3 p.m. CT.
 
No. 22 VCSU 3, (RV) Indiana Tech 2
Valley City State took a big 3-2 victory over Indiana Tech, who is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Vikings defeated the Warriors 19-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17 and 15-12.
 
After falling in the first set 25-19, VCSU stormed back and built a 17-10 lead to open the second set. Indiana Tech inched closer, but the Vikings held on to win 25-21 and even the match 1-1.
 
The momentum shifted back to the Warriors as they took an early 7-1 lead in set three. VCSU later took a 9-1 run to hold a 15-13 lead and the teams went back-and-forth from there until Indiana Tech sealed the set on a kill from Hannah Teich.
 
The Vikings then took a 10-3 run midway through the fourth set and finished with a 25-17 win on a block from Danielle Hagler and Morgan Nelson to force a fifth set.
 
In the final set, Indiana Tech took a quick 7-4 advantage and held onto a small lead. Trailing 11-8, VCSU rallied back with five straight points to take over the momentum and finish with a 15-12 victory in the final set to secure the first Viking win of the season.
 
Sadie Hansen posted a triple-double, totaling 47 set assists, 17 digs and 10 kills in the match. Danielle Hagler finished with 17 kills and seven assisted blocks while junior transfer Macy Fridgen added 16 kills and three blocks (1 solo, 2 assisted). Morgan Freije and Emma Lucas each posted 10 kills and Lucas added five assisted blocks.
 
Defensively, Delani Clarke recorded 20 digs while Reagan Bogenreif added 17 and Ellie Rush chipped in 11.
 
Taylor University 3, No. 22 VCSU 1
VCSU dropped the second game of the day 3-1 to Taylor University, 25-21, 25-20, 23-25 and 25-19.
 
Taylor narrowly outhit the Vikings with 54 kills to VCSU's 50 in the match. Taylor added nine service aces and 11 blocks to aid the win.
 
Taylor opened the first set with a 14-8 advantage and held onto a comfortable lead throughout the set. VCSU took a 5-2 run to close the gap to trail 23-21 but the Trojans took the final two points to earn a 25-21 win to open the match. The Trojans held onto its momentum and hit .324 to win the second set 25-20 and hold a 2-0 lead.
 
VCSU fought back though, turning a 13-11 deficit into an 18-15 advantage. With the set tied at 21-21, the Vikings finished with four of the next six points to stay alive in the match.
 
Taylor took back the momentum in the fourth set and used a 10-2 run to build a comfortable 20-12 lead. VCSU made a late rally with five straight points including a pair of kills from Macy Fridgen, but the Trojans held on for a 25-19 win.
 
Fridgen paced the Vikings with 15 kills while Emma Lucas totaled 11, Danielle Hagler chipped in 10 and Morgan Freije added nine.
 
Delani Clarke posted a team-high eight digs while Fridgen, Hagler and Sadie Hansen each added seven. Lexi Thorsgard, Ellie Rush and Reagan Bogenreif each recorded five digs for VCSU. Hansen finished with 36 set assists in the match.