HELENA, Mont. – The Valley City State volleyball team pushed Carroll College through four competitive sets Friday night but fell 3-1 in Frontier Conference action.
The Saints claimed the match 29-27, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23. VCSU moves to 8-16 overall and 6-11 in conference play, while Carroll improves to 15-9 overall and 10-7 in the Frontier.
Madysen Geist led the Vikings with 11 kills and a .409 hitting percentage, adding four blocks. Molly Bjorneby finished with nine kills and a team-high 17 digs, while Eden Carrier added nine kills. Kadie Kocka and Madden Bogenreif each contributed eight kills.
Gracie Schumacher recorded a double-double with 24 assists and 10 digs. Bogenreif also posted a double-double, finishing with 18 assists and 12 digs. Reece Cave collected 13 digs, Annika Pulju added 12 and Kocka finished with 10, giving the Vikings six players with double-digit digs.
VCSU battled back from a 24-20 deficit in the opening set, scoring four straight points to extend the frame. A Geist kill and Pulju ace later gave the Vikings a 26-25 advantage, but Carroll ultimately secured the final two points for a 29-27 win.
The Vikings held a 22-20 lead in the second set following a Bogenreif service ace. Carroll rallied to tie the score, and after VCSU moved ahead 23-22, the Saints scored three straight points to take a two-set lead.
VCSU responded with its strongest offensive set in the third, totaling 15 kills and hitting .220. With the score tied at 20-20, the Vikings won five of the final six points. Consecutive kills from Bogenreif and Bjorneby closed out the 25-21 victory.
Carroll built a 15-8 lead in the fourth set before VCSU worked its way back into contention. The Vikings eventually tied the score at 22-22 on a Bjorneby kill, but the Saints answered with consecutive points and held on to finish the match, 25-23.
VCSU totaled 48 kills, 78 digs and 10 service aces. Bjorneby, Pulju, Schumacher and Bogenreif each served two aces. Carroll finished with 57 kills, 86 digs and 13 blocks, led by Birdie Heuiser and Lauren Heuiser with 14 kills apiece.
The Vikings return to action Saturday, Oct. 24, taking on Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont., at 7 p.m. CT.
