“This was a great way to open our season,” said head volleyball coach Abby Crowser. “The first day the team was able to get comfortable with one another and into a rhythm that led them into the second day. Beating Central Lakes was huge for us, especially this early on in the season. Going 4-0 on the tournament was very satisfying. I’m looking forward to seeing what all this team is going to accomplish.”

In their thrilling 5 set (25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 23-25, 22-20) victory over the Raiders, M State served 95.5% (107/112), recording 8 service aces.  Serving leaders were Alexa Mortenson (20/20, 4 aces), Bailey Marty (16/16, 1 ace), Sierra Jensen (23/24, 3 aces), Alexis Heisler (20/21, 1 ace) and Sydney Hovland (15/16).  Kill leaders were Hannah Ekse and Katherine Mastey with 15 and 10, respectively.  Hovland distributed 33 set assists.  Taylor Berndt had a team high 26 digs, followed by Heisler (21, Hovland (19) and Marty (18).  Ekse (4), Hovland (3) and Mortenson (2) combined for 9 blocks.

The Spartans swept Mesabi Range 25-15, 25-18, 25-19, Rainy River 25-18, 25-21, 25-18, and Hibbing 25-23, 25-17, 26-24.

Leaders against Mesabi Range were Marty (21 digs, 19/21 serving, 4 aces, 1 block), Hovland (32 set assists, 6/6 serving, 1 ace, 1 block), Ekse (13/15 serving, 3 aces, 7 kills, 2 blocks), Berndt (9/9 serving, 3 aces, 9 digs), Mastey (16 kills) and Jensen (11/12 serving, 1 ace).  Amzie Aho added a pair of blocks.  As a team the Spartans once again served well at 91.8% with 13 aces.

In the sweep of Rainy River Hovland had 20 set assists and 7 kills.  Marty had 16 digs, while serving 11-of-12 with an ace.  Heisler served up 5 aces on 10-of-13 serving and Mortenson was 13-of-15 on the serving line with 3 aces.  Berndt had a team high 18 digs and had 2 aces on 12-of-13 serving.  Mastey had 9 kills and a block.

Marty (12/12), Hovland (9/9, 1 ace), Heisler (9/10, 2 aces) and Jensen (15/17, 3 aces) led the serving effort against Hibbing.  Hovland added 25 set assists, Marty had 16 digs, Berndt had 12 digs, Mastey delivered 7 kills and Mortenson also contributed 7 kills.