The Basics
Score: MNU 3 - Blue Mountain Christian 2
Record: MNU (29-1, 18-1), BMC (34-3)
Location: Cook Center | Olathe, Kan.
OLATHE, Kan. - #10 MNU won a 5-set match over Blue Mountain Christian in the Opening Round of the NAIA National Tournament on Saturday. The Pioneers started slowly in Set 1, as the Toppers jumped out to a 7-1 lead. MNU fought back to tie it at 8, but BMC went on a run to take a 16-13 lead. A
Charley Turner service run gave the Pioneers a 17-16 lead, and the set remained tight until the end. MNU led 21-20 when the Pioneers won the final 4 points for a 25-20 victory.
Set 2 was similar, as the Toppers used a 7-0 run to take an 8-4 lead. But a
Savannah Crossland service run capped an MNU 7-0 run for a 14-12 lead. The set was tight late, but MNU won the key points to keep the lead and won 25-23.
MNU mostly controlled the 3rd set, leading by 3 or 4 points until the end. The Pioneers led 22-17 and seemed poised to take the match, but the Toppers scored 6 straight points (on 6 straight MNU errors) to take a 23-22 lead. A service error tied it at 23, but BMC scored the final 2 points to steal the set.
Blue Mountain took the momentum from Set 3 and dominated Set 4. MNU never scored more than 2 in a row, and an early 3-0 BMC lead ballooned to 19-10. The Toppers cruised to a 25-17 victory to force a 5th set.
BMC led the 5th set 2-1 before a huge service run from
Brianna Moylan gave MNU an 8-2 lead. A timeout barely stopped the bleeding for the Toppers, and it was 11-3 before another timeout. Blue Mountain got within shouting distance with a 5-2 run, but the Pioneers closed it out 15-9 to advance to Sioux City for the Final Site.
Turning Point
MNU dominated the 5th set.
Individual Leaders
Teresa Saunders led the way with 13 kills and 3 blocks. With
Ariana Arciniega under the weather,
Charley Turner stepped up as a starter to record 12 kills.
Mikayla Johnson had 10 kills and 7 blocks.
Lucie Maceckova had 9 kills and 17 digs.
Cassidy Crist had 8 kills and 15 digs.
Katrina Davis had 47 assists and 19 digs. And
Savannah Crossland had 30 digs.
Up Next
The 24-team national championship final site pool play match-ups will be announced on Sunday, November 20, on NAIA.org by 5:00.
