St. Cloud State Volleyball Plays Tough, Drops Tough One to Minnesota State

Friday, November 4

St. Cloud, Minn.

7 p.m.

St. Cloud State

8-18 (3-14NSIC)

Minnesota State-Mankato

14-11 (8-9NSIC)

Minnesota State

St. Cloud State

Nicole Miller

St. Cloud State Volleyball Plays Tough, Drops Tough One to Minnesota State

11/4/2016 10:48:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

St. Cloud, Minn.- The women of the St. Cloud State volleyball team showed they meant business when they battled hard against Minnesota State Mankato Nov. 4 at Halenbeck Hall, as they pushed the Mavericks to four sets in a tough match loss.

The Huskies (8-18, 3-14 NSIC) started the match strong with a service ace from freshman libero Clara Krenz to open the match. The Mavericks (14-11, 8-9 NSIC) pushed back and lead the Huskies at 2-4 before Emily Mankowski would enter the game and get an ace of her own by barely tagging the deep left corner of the Mavericks side to get the Huskies within one point. The teams then went point for point with eight scoring ties in the first 26 points, knotting up at 13-13. The Mavericks would then go on a bit of a run and get ahead of the Huskies 19-13 on the heels of end all blocking from their front line. The Huskies would use up their time outs and close the gap on the Mavericks, but were unsuccessful in completing the comeback and fell 25-20 in the first set.

The second set started with Mankato controlling all the momentum as they were able to get up on the Huskies 7-2. However, a huge play from St. Cloud State to put the ball away while the Mavericks were scrambling out of system would prove to be the turning point in the second frame. Following Shannon Klink's timely kill, Nicole Miller served two aces to put the Huskies up 11-10 and igniting a 6-0 run for the home team. Mankato would draw close to the Huskies at 18-20, but St. Cloud State ensured the victory when Becca Gruber put the ball away to win the set for the Huskies at 25-21.

The Huskies started the third set in top form, with the offense amassing few errors, but the Mavericks never allowed any momentum to be built. In a set that saw 10 ties in the score, the final one coming at 21-21, every point mattered and Mankato was able to get the scale to tip just slightly in their favor and took the set 25-22.

The late set heroics by Mankato took the wind out of the Huskies sails and they struggled to get going in the fourth set. However, after an early time out by Coach Braegelmann, the Huskies tied up the set at 13-13 on the heels of unforced errors by the Maverick offense. Mankato would get out to a two point lead on the Huskies and run with it, and close out the match on the heels of Annandale native Morgan Olson's kill to solidify the win at 25-22.

The Huskies were led offensively by Miller who had 15 kills on the match, a season high for the junior, with Becca Gruber (14) and Shannon Klink (11) also breaking double digits. Marissa Kline dished out 46 assists on the night while also getting four kills herself. Clara Krenz dug 19 for the Huskies while Miller and Klink each picked up 15 digs on the match.

Krista Hassing had 17 kills for the Mavericks, while Olson finished the match close behind with 16 kills. Autumn Risch ran the offense with 54 assists and also added two aces for Mankato.

The Huskies will host their final home match of the season when they face-off against #1 Concordia-St. Paul on Nov. 5 for Senior Night. Klink, Kline, Macy Weller, and Taylor Rollo will all be honored before the match for their time with the Huskies. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the gate or at scsutickets.com. Students, don't forget that a simple swipe of your student ID can get you into all Huskies home games for FREE!