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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–Despite being without arguably their best two players, the Mayville State University Comet volleyball team was too much for the Vikings Tuesday night, sweeping the Vikings 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 26-24) at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville.

The Comets lost their starting setter and second-leading hitter in the past few days, but played as well as, or better than, their 11-3 record represents, dominating the Vikings in the first set, then reversing leads by the Vikings in the second and third set.

After dominating the action in the first, the Comets won 21 of 30 rallies after three straight aces by Viking server Anna Neufeld (Jr., Steinbach, MB) had pushed an early Viking lead to 8-4.  The run closed out the second and sent the Vikings to the intermission in a 2-0 hole.

Viking head coach Susan Kolbow said the defensive skill of the Comets was frustrating for the Viking hitters early.

The Vikings responded with quality play in the third, with Aurissa Martens finding her stride as a hitter, leadin the Vikings to a 14-11 lead.  Kolbow said Martens played well in a new spot in the rotation for Valley City State.

But the Comets worked back into the set, tying at 19-19, then taking a 23-20 lead, forcing the Vikings into their second timeout.  Valley City State rallied to turn away three match points by the Comets, tying the set at 24-24, but Mayville State worked a service error from the Vikings and a final attack by their leading killer, Josette Glatt (So., Bismarck, ND) for the win.

The Vikings fall to 1-12 overall, and host three teams this weekend, facing Trinity Bible College, ND, and Briercrest, SK Friday night, and Bismarck State, ND, Saturday.