MAYVILLE, ND (NewsDakota.com)  After surviving a five-set affair with Mayville State the first time around, a Viking team that is reforming itself took a big step in Mayville Thursday.

Rosie Anderson, new to Viking volleyball as a junior after two seasons with women’s basketball, had 12 kills and hit .409 in a 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-15) of the Comets at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.

The win pushed the Vikings to 4-4 in North Star Athletic Association play, with tiebreaker advantage over Dickinson State, who is 2.5 matches behind the Vikings with three to play, securing the Vikings no less than the fourth seed, and a home playoff match in a week and a half.

Valley City State had to rally in all three sets, falling behind by five in the opener and leading by no more than three, falling behind early in the second before leading by as many as six, and trailing 4-1 in the third before dominating the finish.

Anderson’s production from the right pin was a factor Mayville State could not pin down.   When they did Emma Lucas and Macy Fridgen found spots throughout, each netting eight kills.

The match was punctuated by big moments of depth in the third.  Viking middle Morgan Nelson blocked Comet middle Madison McKinnon on the Comet right, Abby Cox in the middle, and Desidy Schwanke on the Comet outside on the same rally, with the final block scoring.

After two sets of limited opportunities, Morgan Freije took hold for three kills, a solo block and a block assist in the third set.  Anderson then saved a rally with an attack from behind the referee for a kill to give the Vikings match point.

Valley City State is now 12-12 overall, and will face Dakota State and Bellevue University next week.