KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Freshman
Sadie Portmann registered a match-high 13 kills to lead Midwestern State to a five-set win over Minot State in the finale of the Nebraska-Kearney Fall Classic Saturday afternoon at the Health and Sports Center.
The win is the first of the
Stephanie Radecki era as the Mustangs improved to 1-3.
Midwestern State secured the victory by winning seven of the final 10 points, including five consecutive points behind the serving of
Lauryn Bourne.
Autumn Roach assisted Bourne for the final point of the match, and the celebration ensued following a 15-12 victory in the final set.
The Mustangs started strong in the first set, but a 10-4 lead was not enough to quell Minot State (0-4).
The Beavers used a 6-1 run in the middle of the set to overtake MSU, 16-15. After Bourne knotted the set, 19-19, Minot State won six of the final nine points to take the opener, 25-22.
Midwestern rebounded by dominating the second set, 25-11.
Aaliyah Burras tied the set, 10-10, with one of her 11 kills, and
Autumn Roach won 11 straight service points as MSU took a commanding 22-10 lead.
Burras finished with a .391 hitting percentage, but the middle hitter left the match in the fourth set with an injury. Roach recorded a team-high four aces for the Mustangs and had 29 assists in the victory.
Minot State used a 7-3 run to take an 18-12 lead in the third set. A late four-point rally fell short for the Mustangs, who trailed 2-1 following a 25-19 setback.
Portmann propelled the Mustangs to a 25-20 victory in the fourth set. The freshman from Wichita Falls had two kills in a pivotal four-point run as MSU took an eight-point lead and forced the decisive set.
The all-time series with Minot State is tied, 1-1.
Midwestern State seeks its second win of the year when it faces Ouachita Baptist in the first of four matches in the Denton Volleyfest at Kitty Magee Arena, starting Friday at 10 a.m. The Mustangs will tangle with Northwestern Oklahoma at 4 p.m. on Friday.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
