MOORHEAD, MN – Behind a balanced attack directed by all-tournament team selection Sydney Murphy, the University of Mary volleyball team swept both of their matches on the second and final day of the MSU Moorhead Microtel and Travelodge Classic. The Marauders swept South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 28-26) and knocked off tournament host MSU Moorhead in four sets (25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23). UMary won three of four matches over the weekend at the season-opening tournament.
 
Murphy, a sophomore setter, was the only UMary selection to the All-Classic team. The Bismarck, ND, native posted 131 assists in four games and also led the Marauders in aces with 12. She had 46 digs, the second-best total on the team. Murphy closed out the tournament with a career-best 41 assists in the win over the Dragons.
 
GAME ONE: UMary 3 South Dakota Mines and Technology 0 (25-23, 25-21, 28-26)
Behind a massive edge in aces and a power game led by Morgan Schnabel, Natalia Cruz and Anna Nietfeld, the Marauders swept the Hardrockers over a trio of tight contests. The largest margin of victory was four points in a 25-21 second set win. The other two sets were decided by a pair of points, including the third set that went 28-26. Schnabel had a game-high 13 kills while Cruz had 12. Nietfeld just missed double digits with nine.
 
PIVOT POINT
The Marauders set a tone in the first set. Trailing 15-11, UMary went on a 9-1 rampage to claim a 20-16 lead. Cruz had three kills during the run.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Morgan Schnabel led the Marauders with 13 kills, hitting .310 for the match
• Natalia Cruz reached double figure kills for the third straight match, posting 12 for the game. She also had three aces.
• Anna Nietfield added a team-high two solo blocks to her nine kills
• Sydney Murphy distributed 35 assists, tied Geovanna Almeida for the team lead in aces with four and added 11 digs
• Breanna Donarski posted a team-best 15 digs
• Dana Thompson of the Hardrockers had 19 kills in the three-set game, hitting .412 in the match

 
STAT OF THE GAME
The Marauders held a 14-2 edge in aces over the Hardrockers, which helped offset the fact South Dakota Mines posted a better hitting percentage than UMary, .269 to .198. The Marauders held a 47-37 edge in kills and took 19 more attacks in the game.
 
GAME TWO: UMary 3 MSU Moorhead 0 (25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23)
Murphy dished a career-best 41 assists and just missed a double double with nine digs as the Marauders knocked off tournament host MSU Moorhead in four sets. Six different Marauders had at least five kills in the game, led by Katja Berge's nine. Natalia Cruz chipped in eight kills and Morgan Schnabel added seven. Defense played a big part in the game as UMary had 78 digs and MSU Moorhead 76.  
 
PIVOT POINT
Down 21-17 in the first set, the Marauders rallied to score eight of the final nine points in the set, including the final six. Schnabel posted kills for four of the points. UMary also closed the second set in outstanding fashion, scoring 15 of the final 18 points after trailing 15-10. The Marauders continued to close impressively, bouncing back from a set three setback to close out the match in the fourth and final set on a 9-3 run.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Sydney Murphy just missed a double double with 41 assists and nine digs. She also had three services aces and seven for the day.
• Natalia Cruz posted eight kills and 13 digs. It was the only match she didn't have double digit kills for the weekend.
• Anna Nietfeld paired seven kills and 12 digs
• Geovanna Almeida had 16 digs
• Breanna Donarski led the Marauders with 21 digs
• Katja Berge posted nine kills in just three sets
• Amanda Carlson had a game-high 11 kills for the Dragons and added 15 digs

 
STAT OF THE GAME
Four Marauders posted double digit dig totals as UMary combined for 78 digs to 76 for the Dragons.  
 
NEXT WEEK
The Marauders non-conference schedule continues when UMary competes in the Augie Invite in Sioux Falls, SD, on Friday and Saturday, August 31-Sept. 1. Hosted by fellow Northern Sun member Augustana, the Marauders face nationally ranked Northern State University and Black Hills State University on Friday and Fort Hays State University and Lindenwood University on Saturday.
 
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