Sioux Falls, SD – Morgan Schnabel today showed why she was named the University of Mary's NSIC pre-season player to watch for the 2018 season. The six-foot sophomore posted 29 kills in two matches today, including a career-high 23 coming in the second. Despite her efforts, UMary dropped both matches on day one at the Augie Invite in Sioux Falls, SD. The Marauders fell in the first game 3-0 (10-25, 10-25, 11-25) to #7 Northern State before dropping a long battle in five sets to Black Hills State University 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 23-25, 16-14).
 
The Marauders had a chore on their hands when they took on the 7th ranked team in the country, Northern State. The Wolves showed exactly why they are one of the nation's top teams, sweeping the Marauders in three straight sets. UMary never led in either of the first two sets and only lead 1-0 in the third set. The Marauders will get another shot at Northern State on Wednesday, September 5, with the hopes of coming out on the winning end in the Northern Sun opener for both teams.
 
The Wolves stout defense made it difficult to get anything going. Schnabel led the team with six kills. Madison Bergthold added a team-leading two blocks.
 
UMary closed out day one of the Augie Invite against Black Hills State University. This marathon match was nothing short of exciting, with set wins going back and forth.
 
In the first set, the Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 18-7 lead. The Marauders didn't throw in the towel and battled back to tie the match at 20-20. Black Hills State pulled out the set win in the end, 25-22. The second set was a back and forth thriller with the two teams remaining within three points of each other the whole match. The Marauders pulled away at the end to win the set 25-20 on a kill by Katja Berge.
 
Set three was another back-and-forth extravaganza with the Yellow Jackets pulling away at the end to take the set 15-21. The Marauders battled to win the fourth set to remain alive in the match by taking the set 25-23 finalized on an Anna Nietfeld kill.
 
The final set of the day was no different than the first four - absolutely exhilarating. 15 points wasn't enough to win in this closely contested match as the Yellow Jackets needed extra points to knock of the Marauders 16-14 to take the match against the school where UMary head coach Korie Lebeda Tetzlaff served as an assistant coach the last three seasons.
 
Schnabel put on an absolute show against the Yellow Jackets with 23 kills and an incredible hitting percentage of a .404. Schnabel wasn't the only one with an impressive match as four other Marauders added double digit kills. Anna Nietfeld and Katja Berge both added an impressive 13 kills, while Julianna Hughes and Madison Bergthold added an additional 10 terminations each.
 
Kills cannot happen without assists and Sydney Murphy delivered. Murphy was responsible for an incredible 62 assists.
 
The Marauders hope to get back to their winning ways on day two of the Augie Invite. UMary opens the day against Fort Hays State University at 9 am followed by a match against Lindenwood University at 4:30 pm.
 
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