Box Score Bismarck, ND—A nail-biting opening set loss by the University of Mary volleyball team (4-14, 1-12 NSIC) to Minnesota State University-Mankato (9-11, 5-8) was too much to overcome as it fell in Northern Sun action Friday night. A back and forth first set, the Marauders dropped the opener 29-27 as they went on to fall in four sets (27-29, 14-25, 25-20, 19-25).
 
With the Marauders forced away from the McDowell Activity Center due to a scheduling conflict, Alexis Jacobs (Century HS) felt right at home playing in her high school gym, finishing with a game-high 17 kills and adding team-high 13 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. This is the fifth time this season Jacobs has finished with 15 or more kills. Junior Lauren Boldt also had a strong hitting performance for U-Mary finishing with 12 kills.
 
Janell Finkbeiner paced the Marauders offense with 35 assists.
 
One of four Mavericks in double figures, Sydney Geisness finished with 14 kills, while hitting a team-high .476.  Setter Ellie Van De Steeg had a game-high 55 assists for MSU.
 
The Marauders were outhit by the Mavericks .306 to .176 for the game. Defensively, Minnesota State had a 49 to 44 advantage in digs, while U-Mary maintained a 9 to 5 edge in total blocks. A force in the middle, Allison Adams had a part in five of the Marauders nine blocks.
 
In a set that saw 13 ties and three lead changes, the opening act was worth the price of admission. With MSU leading by three at 19-16, U-Mary scored three consecutive points sparked by two Boldt Kills, which forced a Mavericks timeout. With the two teams exchanging blows, the Marauders found themselves with a 27-26 lead and a chance to put the set away with Alex Brown serving. Unfortunately Minnesota State battled back to score the final three points and take the set 29-27.
 
Still reeling from the first set, the Marauders spotted the Mavericks a 4-0 lead in the second set, which they were never quite able to overcome as they fell 25- 14.
 
U-Mary responded out of intermission with an early 6-0 run that gave them an 8-3 lead. The Marauders extended its lead to as many as six, en route to a 25-20 win to keep the match alive.
 
Again in the fourth the Marauders spotted the Mavericks an early lead surrendering the first five points. U-Mary was able to hang around drawing the game to within one at 15-14, but ultimately ran out of steam as it fell 25-19.
 
Freshman Rachel Astrup and Bri Pernsteiner both saw extended time for U-Mary and both finished with a season-high five kills. Pernsteiner hit a game-high .500.
 
The Marauders will have to bounce back quickly as they host the first ranked Concordia University-St. Paul Golden Bears on Saturday at 4 p.m. U-Mary will be back to its normal home, the McDowell Activity Center, for the match.
 
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