VALLEY CITY, N.D. – After finding ways to win both a five-set thriller and a marathon battle last week, the Valley City State University volleyball team heads to Montana looking to carry that momentum into two Frontier Conference rematches.
The Vikings face Montana Tech on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. CT in Butte before traveling to Dillon to take on Montana Western on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 3 p.m. CT.
VCSU enters the weekend at 6–12 overall and 4–7 in conference play after consecutive home victories over Bismarck State and Dickinson State. The wins offered more than a boost in the standings: they showed the Vikings' ability to respond when a match tightened. Against Bismarck State, VCSU overcame a 2–1 match deficit and a 12–7 hole in the fifth set, scoring eight of the final nine points to secure the victory. The following night, the Vikings survived five set points in a 35–33 second-set win on their way to sweeping Dickinson State.
Madysen Geist helped power both victories, recording 18 kills on a .364 hitting percentage against Bismarck State before adding 14 kills with just one attack error and a .500 hitting percentage against Dickinson State. Eden Carrier also reached double figures in both matches, contributing 12 kills Thursday and 11 Friday. Their production gives VCSU a strong foundation at the net heading into the road trip.
The Vikings also received contributions throughout the lineup against Dickinson State. Kadie Kocka and Molly Bjorneby each recorded eight kills, while Brynn Sorenson added seven. Gracie Schumacher finished with 28 assists and 15 digs, and Madden Bogenreif contributed 20 assists and 11 digs. Bjorneby's 24 digs and Annika Pulju's 19 helped VCSU total 106 digs, extending rallies and creating additional scoring opportunities.
Friday brings an opportunity to improve on the teams' first meeting, when Montana Tech swept VCSU on Sept. 5. The Vikings stayed close in the second set, trailing just 23–22 before the Orediggers scored the final two points. Montana Tech hit .402 in that match, making defensive pressure and limiting clean attacking opportunities key areas for VCSU in the rematch. Kocka led the Vikings with nine kills, while Geist added seven.
Saturday's matchup carries unfinished business of its own. VCSU took the first two sets against Montana Western on Sept. 4 before the Bulldogs rallied for a five-set victory. Geist recorded 15 kills, Kocka added 14, and Bogenreif finished with 26 assists, 13 digs and three aces. After narrowly missing the chance to close out that match, the Vikings return with recent experience turning pressure-filled finishes into wins.
Montana Western demonstrated its own resilience Wednesday, rallying from two sets down to defeat Montana Tech in five. With both opponents capable of sustaining long battles, the Vikings will look to pair last week's composure with consistent execution from the opening serve.
Following the Montana trip, VCSU returns home to host Mayville State on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. Central Time.
