Wednesday

VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – The Valley City State volleyball team pulled off a five-set victory over Mayville State Wednesday night with numerous players setting new career-bests in the match. VCSU won by final scores of 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 23-25 and 15-9.

After VCSU took the first two sets, Mayville State found the momentum to come back and tie the match to force a fifth set. The Vikings stunned the Comets in the final set, never trailing en route to a 15-9 victory on back-to-back kills from Bailey Nelson.

VCSU improves to 10-16 on the season and 5-8 in conference play. Mayville State drops to 15-17 overall and 6-7 in the NSAA.

The Vikings totaled 300 attacks Wednesday, besting their previous season-high of 241 attacks in a five-set match against Bellevue. VCSU finished with 74 kills on the night, including a career-high 30 kills from Bailey Nelson.

VCSU also tallied a season-best 164 digs Wednesday, led by a career-high 50 digs from libero JayCee Richter. Also posting career-high digs in the match include Sadie Hansen (31), Danielle Hagler (26) and Delani Clarke (26).

Hansen also tied a career-best 63 assists in the match – one she set last season also against Mayville State. Rounding out the career night for the Vikings included Hagler’s 15 kills.

“JayCee Richter with 50 digs, Hansen with career-high assists, all helped Bailey Nelson to 30 kills. We had career-highs for everybody. Everyone was contributing tonight,” said head coach Brigitte Greywater. “Ellie Rush played hard in the back row and no ball was going to die in her zone. She was aggressive. A lot of players had career bests tonight and it was a team effort to finish as one.”

Morgan Nelson chipped in 11 kills and six assisted blocks for the Vikings, and Emma Lucas added 10 kills. Bailey Nelson and Morgan Freije tallied four assisted blocks apiece.

“Mayville was number three in the conference so to knock them off shows that Vikings never give up. These are great athletes, they’re fun to coach and we just let them play volleyball. They show me every day how great they are,” Greywater said.

The Vikings have another chance to move up in the postseason standings as they face Presentation College on Friday. VCSU sits one game back of Mayville and just a half game back of Presentation in the current NSAA standings.

Elora Passa led the Comets with 22 kills, 22 digs and 30 assists Wednesday night. Natalie Hadrava led Mayville’s defense with 45 digs while Payton Richter chipped in 29 digs and Samantha Passa added 28. Rachel Hill totaled a team-high 35 set assists, while Nicole Kartan finished with 14 kills and Ashley Pyburn added 12 kills for Mayville. 

UP NEXT: VCSU hosts Presentation College on Friday, Nov. 4. First serve is at 6 p.m. in Graichen Gym. Mayville State travels to Dickinson State on Thursday, Nov. 3.