BISMARCK, ND - Morgan Schnabel and Sydney Murphy continue to lead the way for the University of Mary as both had impressive performances in tonight's match against the MSU Moorhead Dragons. Murphy had game highs with 27 assists and three aces while Schnabel set a team-high of 13 kills. Despite the efforts of these two standout sophomores, the Marauders fell to the Dragons in three sets in their home opener (25-19, 25-21, 25-23).
With the loss the Marauders fall to 3-7 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
The Marauders came into the game knowing the Dragons would be out for revenge as UMary beat the visitors in four sets at the MSU Moorhead Classic in the season-opening tournament. The Dragons came out strong but so did the Marauders in the tightly contested match.
In the first set, the teams could not separate themselves by more than one point for the first 12 of the match. It wasn't until the Marauders went on a little run to go up 16-12 that any sort of lead was formed. This lead did not last long as the Dragons scored seven unanswered points to pull away and eventually take set one 25-19.
Set two was much of the same, with the Marauders and Dragons going back and forth, exchanging point for point, neither team holding more than a two-point lead until the Dragons spread the lead out to three at 21-18 and eventually took the set 25-21.
As to be expected, set three was a nail biter, just like the previous two. The Marauders were the first to pull away when they jumped up 23-20, but a late scoring streak from the Dragons ended the Marauders hopes of taking a set. The Dragons took set three, 25-23.
The Marauders saw some impressive play by some key reserves. Katja Berge recorded four kills with a hitting percentage of .308 in her one set of action. Julianna Kari recorded an impressive .500 hitting percentage in her two sets in tonight's match.
UMary looks to get back in the win column on Tuesday, September 11, when the Marauders take on the Minot State Beavers at 7 pm in the McDowell Activity Center.
