BISMARCK, ND - Tuesday night provided plenty of electricity in the McDowell Activity Center for the University of Mary Volleyball team's "White Out Night" against Northern State University. A handful of Marauders put up great numbers in a full five-set match where the Wolves just got the edge 3-2 (25-20, 20-25, 29-27, 20-25, 9-15) late in a highly competitive matchup.
It was the first UMary Volleyball match inside the MAC that went a full five sets since October 8, 2016.
The Marauders (4-11, 0-7 NSIC) were able to feed off the MAC's energy early on their way to a 25-20 set one victory.
Ally Gruber led the way with 5 kills and an ace serve. The Marauders worked together for 11 kills on a 0.290 team-hitting percentage and 4 service aces in the opening frame.
The Wolves (12-3, 5-2 NSIC) evened the match up to one set a piece with a 25-20 score in set two. Natalia Szybinska swung for 7 of her game-high 25 kills in set two.
Behind Gruber and North Dakota Petroleum Foundation Player of the Game
Maddie Cooper, the Marauders outlasted the Wolves late in set three for a 29-27 set win and match advantage.
Kameron Selvig also gained 12 of her 43 total assists to help pace the Marauders back in front of the Wolves.
Both squads were neck and neck as UMary led 17-16 late in set four looking for their first conference victory of the 2023 season. The Wolves, however, mounted an impressive comeback powered by five and three-point runs to take set four 25-20, evening the match score and forcing a fifth set.
The fifth set was close like the previous four as UMary only trailed 10-9 late. However, the Wolves caught momentum again with another five-point run as they took the set 15-9 and the match 3-2. The Marauders combined for 53 team kills on a 0.185 hitting percentage Tuesday night.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Maddie Cooper earned NDPF Player of the game honors with 11 kills on a very efficient 0.346 hitting percentage. The junior from Fargo, ND also had 4.0 total blocks and 2 service aces.
Ally Gruber led the Marauders attack with 14 kills and also had a team-high 3 service aces. The senior from Belgrade, MN also had 13 digs.
Nehkyah Ellis had the second most kills for the Marauders with 13, while also contributing 9 digs and 2 aces.
Kameron Selvig had 43 assists with 3 kills, 13 digs, 2.0 blocks, and an ace serve.
Kaia Sueker led the Marauders with 20 digs.
UP NEXT
The UMary Volleyball team will go back on the road next on October 6-7. The Marauders will start the weekend Friday at 6 p.m. against #2 nationally-ranked Concordia - St. Paul (15-1, 6-1 NSIC), and then wrap up the weekend against Winona State (11-4, 4-3 NSIC) Saturday at 2 p.m.
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