BISMARCK, ND - The University of Mary Volleyball team closed out their second home weekend Saturday afternoon against Southwest Minnesota State. Despite a fast start from the Mustangs, the Marauders found a way to hang with the no. 8 ranked team in the nation, pushing the second and third sets to the limits despite falling 3-0 (14-25, 23-25, 21-25) to the powerful Mustangs. 

Maddie Cooper opened the game with a well-instrumented kill in set one. Ally Gruber swung for 3 kills as well in the opening set, but the Mustangs (11-2, 4-1 NSIC) caught momentum as the set carried on, winning 25-14 behind 17 team kills. 

Unrattled, the Marauders (4-10, 0-6 NSIC) took the first three points of set two and clung to an early lead. After a series of stacking scores and a four-point run powered by Maddie Cooper, UMary found themselves up 19-14 in the middle of the set. Behind Saari Kuehl's 7 kills in the frame, the Mustangs chipped away to tie the score at 22, before Kuehl put the Marauders away with another kill shortly thereafter 25-23. 

Despite the first four points of set three going to the Mustangs, the Marauders quickly got back in a rhythm behind a good set performance from Nehkyah Ellis, and would trade the lead off with SMSU four times. Alexandria Harper came through in the clutch for UMary late with a pair of kills that retied the game at 20. The Mustangs would quickly take over, however, gaining advantage on 5 of the next 6 points to claim the match victory, 25-21, in three sets. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Kameron Selvig was named North Dakota Petroleum Foundation player of the game with a 22-assist, 3-kill performance. 

Ally Gruber finished with 6 kills and 5 digs. 

Nehkyah Ellis added 6 more kills plus 3 digs. 

Maddie Cooper had 5 kills and 3.0 total blocks. 

Kaia Sueker had 15 digs and an ace serve. 

UP NEXT
UMary Volleyball fans will not have to wait long until the next home matchup as the Marauders will prepare for a Tuesday matchup with the Northern State Wolves (11-3, 4-2 NSIC). First serve will be at 6 p.m. from the McDowell Activity Center. 

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