VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) When Viking volleyball lost four straight five-set matches to start October, they likely wondered what it takes to win a match that goes the distance.
They learned Wednesday night that it takes 30 kills, 50 digs, and 63 assists.
Bailey Nelson (Sr., Argusville, ND) had 20 of her 30 kills after three sets, JayCee Richter (Fr., Linton, ND) dug up huge balls in the deciding set to record 50 digs, and Sadie Hanson (So., Oakes, ND) routinely swung sets from pin to pin in the same rally to tally 63 assists, as the Vikings edged Mayville State 3-2 (25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 23-25, 15-9) at Graichen Gym.
After narrowly winning the first two sets, sets the Vikings had comfortable leads in, Valley City State ran into a Comet defense that ran up 180 digs as a unit on the night, with six players recording double figure numbers, that turned the match around and forced a fifth set.
But Richter, who led the night individually, made huge plays in the fifth, giving the Vikings additional chances to run their offense, building a 9-4 lead that fell to 12-9 before three straight rallies ended the match.
Delani Clark (Fr., Bismarck, ND) added more defense in the final set, ending the night with 26 digs. Hanson threw in 31 digs to compliment her 63 assists. Danielle Hagler (Fr., Cando, ND) knocked down 15 kills and 26 digs.
“Our defense proved what they can do in the fifth,” said Viking head coach Brigitte Greywater. I have to let athletes be athletes, and they played wide open.”
Nelson stole the show offensively. Her final swing from the outside ended the match and elevated her total to 30 kills on a .342 hitting percentage for the night. Nelson is the lone senior on a team that features seven freshmen and four sophomores.
“They are here to stay, and we talked about that in the huddle,” Greywater remarked. “Bailey is coming back, and we’re playing teams tough right now.”
The Vikings improved to 5-8 in North Star Athletic Association play, a match-and-a-half out of third place in the league. They face Presentation College Friday.