Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Friday the 13th turned out to be very good to the Northern State University Wolves.  Not so much for Minnesota State University, Mankato.

NSU used a pair of 17-kill performances from junior Jordan Schaffer and senior Kelsey Aden to turn back the visiting Mavericks by a 3-1 margin.  The Wolves claimed the victory over the 14th ranked Mavericks in dramatic fashion by final set scores 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 26-24.

The win, NSU’s third in the last five matches, avenged an earlier 3-1 loss to the Mavericks on Sept. 26 and moved the Wolves to 12-16 overall and 7-12 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  MSU, which was also ranked fifth in the latest Central Region poll, slipped to 25-6 overall and 15-4 in the conference loop.

The match provided plenty of dramatic moments throughout.  After trading set wins to open the match, the Wolves nearly gave away a 24-18 lead in the third.  MSU’s Kimber Kuhl started the late rally with her only kill of the stanza, while Alecia Fruechte followed with a pair of service aces sandwiched around two Chelsea Fogarty kills to bring the Mavericks back to within one at 24-23.  NSU salvaged the win, however, on a set-ending service error from Fruechte, as her offering sailed wide to give the Wolves the 25-23 victory and the 2-1 edge.

MSU rebounded to open the fourth set with an 8-1 run to take a commanding 10-4 lead after the Wolves had opened with a 2-0 lead.  NSU fought back, forcing a tie at 17-all on three straight kills from Aden and junior Whitney Morsching only to see the Maverick regain control with a mini 3-0 run to go up 20-17.

The Wolves again rallied to force another tie at 22-all on a Maverick attacking error, then took their first lead since the early going on a Megan Gilbraith service ace.  That lead proved to be short lived, as MSU used an Ally Kwikkel kill and a block at the net to set up their first and only set point.

NSU squelched that with a Schaffer kill before forcing their own set and match point with Claire Kopfmann’s sixth kill of the night.  Sophomore outside hitter Amber Bloom put the finishing touch on the match with her ninth kill on the evening to give the Wolves the upset victory.

The win is NSU’s second over a nationally ranked opponent this season, the first coming during the opening weekend of the year against Augustana, who was ranked 22nd in the preseason set of the national rankings.

Gilbraith had 43 assists and 22 digs for the Wolves, while freshman libero Stephanie Drake chimed in with 23 digs defensively, as the Wolves held MSU to just a .162 hitting percentage.

Fogarty put down a match-high 23 kills to pace the Mavericks, while Amanda Beekman added 14.  Fruechte and Brittany Stamer combined for six of the Mavericks’ nine service aces on the night.

The Wolves finish out the regular season on Saturday, facing yet another nationally ranked opponent as they play host to 13th ranked Southwest Minnesota State University.  First serve is set for 4 p.m. in NSU’s Wachs Arena.