WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. – The Valley City State volleyball team split a pair of games against ranked opponents Saturday at the Keiser Viper Sports Academy Classic.
 
 VCSU defeated No. 11 Missouri Baptist in straight sets, and later fell to No. 19 St. Thomas (Fla.) in a five-set battle. The Vikings finish the tournament with a 2-2 record.
 
The VCSU volleyball and football teams host scrimmages on Wednesday, Aug. 21, presented by BEK Communications. VCSU volleyball will play scrimmages all day at the Bubble. The VCSU Booster Club will host a tailgate party at 4 p.m. at Lokken Stadium followed by a VCSU football scrimmage at 6 p.m. All games are free and open to the public.
 
No. 22 VCSU 3, No. 11 Missouri Baptist 0
Valley City State took its first sweep of the season over No. 11-ranked Missouri Baptist, 27-25, 25-18 and 27-25.
 
Trailing 24-21 in the first set, the Vikings stepped up and finished with a 6-1 run to take the 27-25 victory on a final kill from Morgan Freije. The Vikings held onto the momentum in set two, taking an 11-2 run to finish the set with a 25-18 win.
 
The Vikings built an early 10-4 lead in the third set, but Missouri Baptist recovered to take a 15-14 lead. It remained close down the stretch and the teams traded set-point opportunities. An Emma Lucas kill held off the Spartans to tie the game at 25-25. From there, an attack error gave the Vikings match point which was locked down by a Danielle Hagler service ace.
 
Hagler finished with nine kills, seven assisted blocks, seven digs and four service aces for the Vikings. Lucas added eight kills while Freije and Macy Fridgen each added seven. Morgan Nelson contributed four kills and seven assisted blocks at the net.
 
Sadie Hansen totaled 25 set assists, eight digs and three kills in the match, while Delani Clarke recorded a team-best 18 digs for the Vikings.
 
No. 19 St. Thomas 3, No. 22 VCSU 2
VCSU dropped its tournament finale game to No. 19 St. Thomas in five sets, 25-17, 20-25, 20-25, 25-15 and 15-13.
 
After falling in the first set 25-17, VCSU bounced back and hit .361 in the second set to secure a 25-20 win to even the match. In set three, the Vikings trailed 8-2 early but a timeout to regroup helped spark the Vikings to a seven-point run capped by a block from Morgan Freije and Emma Lucas. VCSU later went on a 5-1 run to pull away with a 22-16 lead and took the set 25-20 on a service ace from Sadie Hansen.
 
With the game on the line, St. Thomas wouldn't go down without a fight. The Bobcats built a 12-3 lead that helped them to a 25-15 win to send the match to a fifth set.
 
The fifth set featured six ties early on, but the Bobcats found a four-point run to hold a 10-8 advantage. The Vikings made a late run, holding off match point for St. Thomas three times before the Bobcats secured the set, 15-13.
 
VCSU had four players post double figure kills, paced by Macy Fridgen with 15. Emma Lucas chipped in 11 while Danielle Hagler and Morgan Freije each added 10. Hagler paced the block effort with five assisted and one solo block, while Freije, Lucas, and Morgan Nelson each added four assisted blocks.
 
Sadie Hansen finished with 39 set assists and 15 digs in the match. Delani Clarke totaled 17 digs and Hagler added 11. Ellie Rush contributed nine digs and three service aces in the match.