VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Valley City State battled back twice and finished strong Friday night, defeating Rocky Mountain College in a five-set thriller at Graichen Gym.
The Vikings earned the victory by scores of 22-25, 25-15, 14-25, 25-19 and 15-11.
After dropping the opening set, VCSU answered with a dominant second frame. The Vikings broke open a close start with an extended run and built a 20-10 advantage before closing out the set, 25-15, to even the match.
Rocky Mountain responded in the third set, hitting .448 and taking control early on its way to a 25-14 victory.
Facing a must-win fourth set, the Vikings came out firing. VCSU scored the first five points and later used a seven-point run behind the serving of Libby Mathern to build a 12-3 lead. Rocky Mountain cut into the deficit late, but Madysen Geist delivered the final kill of the 25-19 victory to force a deciding fifth set.
The Vikings grabbed an early 5-2 advantage in the finale before Rocky Mountain rallied to tie the set at 5-5. VCSU responded with five straight points, highlighted by kills from Eden Carrier and a block by Ellie Lucas and Geist, to take a 10-5 lead.
Rocky Mountain pulled within 12-10, but the Vikings held off the comeback. Carrier recorded two of VCSU's final three kills, including the match-winner, to secure the 15-11 victory.
Geist powered the Viking offense with a match-high 20 kills while hitting .515. She also contributed four total blocks. Carrier added 12 kills on a .455 hitting percentage, while Kadie Kocka finished with nine kills and 17 digs.
Madden Bogenreif led the Vikings with 22 assists and added two service aces. Gracie Schumacher totaled 20 assists and six digs. Annika Pulju anchored the back row with a match-high 23 digs, while Mathern added six digs and an ace.
As a team, VCSU finished with 60 kills, 82 digs and a .198 hitting percentage. The Vikings hit .263 in the fourth set and recorded nine kills in the abbreviated fifth set.
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Valley City State remains at home to host Carroll College on Tuesday.
