BISMARCK, N.D. - The Marauders started off strong in every set tonight, but couldn't keep the pace up as the MSU-Moorhead Dragons overcame the attack and put U-Mary away in straight sets.
 
The offense was looking strong early in the first set, putting the Marauders up 4-0 on the Dragons. Moorhead kept the score close but U-Mary utilized a balanced offense and defense to maintain a 13-10 advantage. A burst from the Dragons closed the gap to 14-13 and eventually shifted the momentum after tying the match at 15-15. A 4-0 run gave the Dragons a 19-15 lead but the Marauders would not be beaten so easily as they fought to keep the score close at 19-17, then 22-20. It wasn't enough for U-Mary as Moorhead closed out the first set 25-21.
 
The Marauders opened up the second set with another 4-1 lead, except this time the Dragons narrowed the deficit at 6-4 before using a 4-0 run to put the score at 8-6 in their favor. U-Mary kept the grit up and tied the set at 8-8. Another back and forth saw Moorhead up 12-10 before they rallied off seven straight points to extend their lead 19-10. It was suddenly crunch time for the Marauders as they fought tooth and nail to keep the Dragons in check, eventually narrowing the gap to 23-19. Unfortunately the gas ran out on U-Mary's offense and Moorhead took the set 25-20.
 
Set three started out just the same as the first two, with the Marauders up 4-1. The Dragons would not let U-Mary off the hook that easily as they regained the advantage at 5-4. The Marauders, highlighting their trademark resilience, fought back, retook the lead at 6-5, and rode a stingy defense to a 9-8 buffer against Moorhead. Yet the Dragons would not be contained as they rode a 5-1 rally to a 13-9 lead and kept the pressure up as they extended their advantage to 21-13. U-Mary had one last gasp in them as they closed the gap to 23-16, but that was as close as the Marauders would get as Moorhead finally shut the door on the match at 25-17.
 
Kelsey Boyd took the reigns for the Marauders on the offense with 10 kills, 17 attacks, a .353 attack percentage, two digs and two block assists. Lauren Boldt got a hand on the attack as well with seven kills, 19 attacks, a .316 attack percentage, one dig and two block assists. Lauren Randall wasn't as active tonight but she still finished with eight kills, 21 attacks, a .238 attack percentage, one ace and five digs. Rachel Astrup saw limited action but made it count with six kills, nine attacks, a .556 attack percentage, one solo block and three block assists.
 
Janell Finkbeiner and Katelyn Olson split time driving the offense tonight as Finkbeiner finished with 21 assists and five digs, her second straight game with at least 20 assists. Olson finished with 14 assists, two kills and one block assist.
 
Alex Brown kept up her usual pace on the defense with 18 digs while adding two assists and one kill.
 
The Marauders (3-17, 0-11 NSIC) head out on the road as they travel to Duluth, Minn., to take on #2 Minnesota Duluth on Friday, Oct. 17.