The Basics
Scores: MNU 3 – Evergreen State 0; MNU 3 – Friends 0
Record: MNU (3-0)
Location: Wichita, Kan. – Garvey Center

WICHITA, Kan. – MNU remained unbeaten with a pair of sweeps on Saturday, defeating Evergreen State 25-23, 25-17, 25-17 before taking down Friends 25-22, 25-21, 25-21. The Pioneers improved to 3-0 on the season and dropped just one set over their first three matches.

MNU hit .209 against Evergreen State while holding the Geoducks to .078. The opening set was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than three. Evergreen held a 23-22 advantage late, but Laura Carbonell delivered back-to-back kills before Mia Olson finished a 3-0 closing run with a kill for the 25-23 victory.

The Pioneers created separation midway through the second set. Leading 12-10, MNU used an 8-3 stretch to build a 20-13 advantage and cruised to a 25-17 win. MNU then broke open a 9-9 third set behind the serving of Anna DeGraffenreid. She recorded four aces during a 6-0 run that gave the Pioneers a 15-9 lead, and MNU closed out the sweep 25-17.

Carbonell led a balanced MNU attack against Evergreen with 10 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Olson added nine kills on .471 hitting, while Pavlina Pelcova had 6 kills and hit .400. DeGraffenreid finished with 15 assists, 10 digs and 4 aces, and Emily Mathis led the defense with 19 digs. The Pioneers finished with 42 kills and 7 aces in the victory.

Game 1 Turning Point
With the third set tied 9-9, MNU took control behind the serving of Anna DeGraffenreid. The Pioneers scored six straight points, including four DeGraffenreid service aces, to build a 15-9 advantage on the way to a 25-17 win and the sweep of Evergreen State.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Laura Carbonell: 10 kills (.333)
Mia Olson: 9 kills (.471), 2 blocks, 10.5 points
Kyla Brandes: 7 kills
Pavlina Pelcova: 6 kills (.400)
Anna DeGraffenreid: 15 assists, 10 digs, 4 aces
Callie Winebarger: 22 assists, 4 digs, 1 ace
Emily Mathis: 19 digs, 4 assists
Dominika Bartosz: 5 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces

In Game 2, MNU followed with another straight-set victory against Friends. The Pioneers produced 46 kills while limiting the Falcons to just 21, and Friends hit only .029 for the match.

The Pioneers led most of the opening set before Friends pulled within 23-22 late. Kyla Brandes answered with consecutive kills to close out the 25-22 win. MNU then raced to an 8-3 lead in the second set and extended the margin to 13-6. Friends eventually cut the deficit to 15-14, but the Pioneers responded with a 6-1 run and went on to win 25-21.

Friends made MNU work for the sweep in the third. The Pioneers led 9-4 before the Falcons rallied to take a 19-16 advantage. MNU answered with four straight points to regain the lead at 20-19. After Friends tied the set at 21, Carbonell put MNU back in front with a kill, and the Pioneers scored the final four points for another 25-21 victory.

Dominika Bartosz led MNU against Friends with 12 kills and 11 digs while adding two aces. Pola Madziewicz finished with eight kills, Olson and Carbonell added seven apiece, and Brandes had six. DeGraffenreid recorded 23 assists and seven digs, while Callie Winebarger added 15 assists. Mathis anchored the back row with 21 digs.

Game 2 Turning Point
MNU trailed Friends 19-16 late in the third set before responding with four straight points to take a 20-19 lead. After the Falcons eventually tied it at 21, Laura Carbonell put MNU back in front with a kill, and the Pioneers scored the final four points to win 25-21 and complete their second sweep of the day.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Dominika Bartosz: 12 kills, 11 digs, 2 aces
Pola Madziewicz: 8 kills (.235)
Mia Olson: 7 kills (.308), 3 blocks
Laura Carbonell: 7 kills, 2 blocks
Kyla Brandes: 6 kills
Anna DeGraffenreid: 23 assists, 7 digs, 1 ace
Callie Winebarger: 15 assists, 3 digs, 2 aces
Emily Mathis: 21 digs, 4 assists