Kirkpatrick and Isenbart block an attack for UMary Volleyball
AnneMarie Bittner
1
Mary UMARY 6-21,5-14 NSIC
3
Winner Minn. Duluth UMD 24-3,16-3 NSIC
Mary UMARY
6-21,5-14 NSIC
1
Final
3
Minn. Duluth UMD
24-3,16-3 NSIC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Mary UMARY 15 15 25 19 (1)
Minn. Duluth UMD 25 25 20 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Mitch Keeran | UMary athletic communications

Gruber, Marauders stretch #5 Bulldogs to four sets in hardfought defeat

DULUTH, MN – The University of Mary volleyball team had a tough challenge with two top-ten nationally ranked opponents on the horizon. However, the Marauders showed grit and battled to take a set from the #5 ranked University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Friday night. Despite great team efforts throughout, the Marauders would fall to the Bulldogs 3-1 (25-15, 25-15, 20-25, 25-19).

A quick start by the Bulldogs handed the Marauders an early setback in set one. UMary began to chip away at the Duluth lead behind a solid attack from Reyna Isenbart and two aces a piece from Nehkyah Ellis and Ally Gruber. However, their efforts came too late as the Bulldogs claimed the first set 25-15.

The Marauders fought for a better start in set two, trading off early leads with the Bulldogs. UMary would gain a 14-13 advantage as the set carried on with long rally play, but UMD would answer big by taking control with a pair of 6-point runs to halt the Marauders once again by a score of 25-15 in set two.

UMary would continue to battle Minnesota Duluth hard going into set three, fighting for their best start of the night by gaining the first seven of nine points. The Marauders continued to hold a lead and keep the pressure on the Bulldogs as the set carried on, holding a 16-11 lead when Duluth was forced to burn their second timeout of the set. The Bulldogs would battle back, but the Marauders would outlast the #5 team in the country to take set three 25-20, ultimately capitalizing on a balanced attack, solid service, and dominating at the net with a plethora of blocks from McKenna Kirkpatrick and Reyna Isenbart.  

Set four proved to be another battle in the matchup with UMD holding a slight advantage all the way through. The Marauders showed grit late in the set by coming close with the Bulldogs 21-18, but UMD would quickly put away the Marauders for good thanks to an onslaught of kills from Sydney Lanoue.

Minnesota Duluth outhit UMary 0.220 to 0.104 and gained 62 kills to the Marauders 33. However, the Marauders proved very tough at the net outblocking the Bulldogs 16-6.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Ally Gruber highlighted the Marauders attack as she led with 10 kills on a 0.219 hitting percentage. Gruber also gained a pair of aces and had six digs.
  • McKenna Kirkpatrick had another block party as she led the match with seven total blocks. Kirkpatrick also had four kills with an efficient 0.364 hitting percentage, collected seven digs and one ace serve.
  • Reyna Isenbart put forth a solid performance to swing for six kills with a 0.200 hitting percentage and had a hand in four total blocks.
  • Kaia Sueker was once again covering plenty of the court with 17 digs. She also had two ace serves and dished out four assists.
  • Nehkyah Ellis had six kills plus eight digs on the night.

UP NEXT
The UMary volleyball team will wrap up their 2022 season on the road to another formidable opponent in the Northern Sun as they take on #8 St. Cloud State (22-5, 13-5 NSIC) Saturday at 3 pm. This will be the Marauders' second meeting with the Huskies in the 2022 season, following a 3-0 defeat at home back on September 9.
 
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