Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 |
Box Score 3 |
Box Score 4
Tournament Stats
The #5 Pioneers faced some tough challengers over the weekend and came away with a 3-1 record at the Hy-Vee Pioneer Invitational. MNU started the weekend against #11 Park on Friday in the NAIA Match of the Week. MNU took the match in 4 hard-fought sets 25-22, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23. Zoraida Heredia led the offense with 14 kills while racking up 13 digs. Linjun Ji also recorded a double double with 10 kills and 14 digs. Taryn Salum added MNU's third double double with 38 assists and 10 digs. And Britney Grittman controlled the net with 7 blocks.
Friday evening MNU faced Grand View and won another tough 4-setter 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20. Vladi Kopanarova recorded a career-high 18 kills to lead the offense. Zoraida Heredia had a double double with 13 kills and 14 digs. Linjun Ji had 14 kills and 8 digs. And Taryn Salum had 47 assists, 7 digs, and 5 kills.
On Saturday morning the Pioneer swept Ottawa 25-21, 25-17, 25-16. Zoraida Heredia had 7 kills, 10 digs, and 5 aces to lead MNU in the rout.
The final match of the tournament pitted undefeated #5 MNU (12-0) against undefeated #8 Midland (18-0). The match was anticipated to be an even battle and it lived up to its billing until late in the third set. Midland won the first set 25-22 but the Pioneer answered back with a convincing 25-20 victory in Set 2. MNU continued to dominate until they led 18-12 in the third set. After a Midland timeout, the Warriors went on a 13-4 run to win the set 25-22, then continued their momentum into a dominant fourth set 25-18 victory to take the match. Vladi Kopanarova had a match-high 17 kills. Taryn Salum had 35 assists, 5 kills, and 5 digs. Rosan Rivera recorded 15 digs. And Emily Hester had 7 blocks.
Setter Taryn Salum was named to the All-Tournament Team.
The #5 Pioneers are 12-1 (1-0 HAAC). The next match is Tuesday at home vs. Evangel (7-9, 0-0) at 7:00.
