VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) Montana Tech did not play in the opening round of pool play Wednesday, while the Vikings did.
The Orediggers were in the same situation in their Frontier Conference tournament, when they were upset by Montana State-Western, who had to win to advance while Tech waited for their semifinal opponent.
That night, the Orediggers were upset in a sweep, and the Vikings stormed out to a 16-8 lead in the opening set of their NAIA national tournament match Thursday.
But the Orediggers found their footing sooner the second time around.
Montana Tech finished the by winning 17 of 21 rallies to win 25-20, and they rolled to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-22 win over Valley City State at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, IA.
Olivia Muir, the Frontier Conference Player of the Year, landed a match-high 16 kills after the Orediggers were limited to .067 hitting in the first 24 rallies. Tech finished the night at .214 as a team.
Maureen Jessop tallied nine, five in the first set when the Orediggers turned to her outside position to stabilize a listing ship. She hit .320 for the match.
The Vikings rolled early behind a defense that turned away several opportunities from a physical Tech lineup. JayCee Richter notched 24 digs for the match, a key to building the first-set lead, and a comeback that tied the third set.
But the VCSU offense that hit .305 in the first 24 rallies finished at just .062 for the match. Tech’s blocking ability was on full display throughout the finish, led by Taylor Henley, a first-team All-Frontier Conference selection that co-led her team with four blocks after recording 94 entering play Thursday.
Bailey Nelson, the senior from Argusville, ND that has been the leader of the team, led the Vikings with 10 kills, finishing her season with 378. Morgan Freije had five kills and led the Vikings in blocking with three.
Viking setter Sadie Hansen recorded 23 assists, finishing her season with 1,285 assists. She won the North Star Athletic Association Setter of the Week award seven times this season and was a first-team All NSAA selection.
Nelson and Mardi Scutchings will depart the Viking program, with Frieje, Hansen, first team All NSAA selection Danielle Hagler and Emma Lucas returning as offensive leaders. Richter, Delani Clark, Reagan Bogenreif, and Lexi LeRoux are defensive leaders and specialists slated to return.