The Basics
Score1: MNU 3 - Morningside 1
Score2: MNU 2 - Doane 3
Record: MNU (1-1)
Location: Crete, Neb.
CRETE, Neb. - MNU beat Morningside to open the season, but lost to host Doane in the evening in 5 sets. Morningside took the first set 28-26, but the Pioneers won the next 3 sets 25-23, 25-20, and 25-22 to take the match.
Game 1 Turning Point
Tied at 21 in the 2nd set, the Pioneers won 4 of the next 6 points to even the match.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Jennifer Roth hit .354 with 18 kills and 15 digs.
Jacqueline Calvert hit .382 with 17 kills and 9 blocks.
Rachel Dossett had 11 kills and 6 blocks.
McKenna Webster had 19 digs. And
Kourtney Hansen had 31 assists and 14 digs.
Game 1 Inside the Box Score
MNU hit .230 while Morningside hit .169.
In Game 2 vs. Doane, the Pioneers won the first set 25-19 but dropped the second set 18-25. Set 3 went to MNU 25-20, and the Pioneers led the fourth set 24-23 before Doane won 3 straight points to even the match. Doane controlled the 5th set to win it.
Game 2 Turning Point
Doane fought off match point in Set 4 to stay alive.
Game 2 Individual Leaders
Jennifer Roth had 16 kills and 15 digs.
Jacqueline Calvert hit .520 with 15 kills and 5 aces.
Kadin McGee added 7 kills and 0 errors in 13 attacks.
McKenna Webster had 13 digs.
Kourtney Hansen had 29 assists and 11 digs. And
Gracie Myers had 19 assists and 6 digs.
Game 2 Inside the Box Score
Doane controlled the net with 16 blocks to MNU's 6.
"Today was a success," said head coach
Molly Karagyaurov. "I went in with no expectations other than travel safely and compete. And we did that. We know we are blessed to even be starting our season! So the two matches today felt surreal in the best way. It's just good to be playing!
As far as performance, we battled with two solid teams in Morningside and Doane. Considering it was day 1 and our first competition against anyone but ourselves; I proud of our team. We saw solid performances from several players. We had 4 freshman in the rotation on day 1 of their college playing careers and they held their own.
We had some successes but also we have a lot of room for growth and as a coach both of those are exciting! But we have no time to waste because Tuesday we have another tough day.
But I will say, we had a couple of cool moments for several players. Most notably,
Jennifer Roth moved to #9 on the all time point scoring list; #9 on the all time kills list; #9 on the all time digs list and she actually passed me on the all time aces list! She currently has 129 aces in her career with is 2nd overall which is a major accomplishment. It is only a matter of time before that record has her name on it. She deserves it. She's a good kid and worked very hard this off-season. I'm proud of her!"
Up Next
The next match is a triangular on Tuesday at home vs. Columbia at 4:30 followed by Tabor at 7:00. Spectator Protocol
here.
