The Basics
Scores: MNU 3 – Indiana Wesleyan 2; Columbia 3 – MNU 1
Record: MNU (4-2)
Location: Seward, Neb. – Friedrich Arena
SEWARD, Neb. – MNU split a pair of matches Saturday, rallying from a two-set deficit to defeat #3-ranked Indiana Wesleyan in five before falling to Columbia in four sets. The Pioneers finished the day 4-2 on the season.
MNU opened the day with a dramatic 12-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-21, 15-10 comeback victory over Indiana Wesleyan. After struggling offensively in the first two sets, the Pioneers turned the match around by hitting .412 in the third, .188 in the fourth and .476 in the deciding fifth set. MNU finished with 57 kills and 14 service aces.
Indiana Wesleyan appeared to be in control after taking the first two sets, and the Wildcats built a 12-7 advantage midway through the third. MNU chipped away and eventually tied the set at 19. After IWU regained a 21-19 lead, Kennedy Smalley delivered three kills during a 4-0 Pioneer response that put MNU ahead 23-21. The Wildcats fought off set point and tied it at 24, but Mia Olson answered with a kill before Pola Madziewicz finished the set for a 26-24 victory.
The Pioneers carried the momentum into the fourth. MNU broke a 7-7 tie with consecutive Malasy Sakounlaphoum aces and later stretched the advantage to 18-14. Indiana Wesleyan pulled within two at 22-20, but MNU closed out the set 25-21 on a Madziewicz kill to force a fifth.
MNU then took command immediately in the deciding set. Leading 3-2, the Pioneers scored six of the next seven points, with Olson recording three kills and Callie Winebarger adding two aces during the run. Indiana Wesleyan cut the margin to 9-6, but MNU answered and finished the comeback on a Smalley kill for the 15-10 victory.
Smalley led the Pioneer attack with 15 kills on .303 hitting. Olson and Madziewicz each added 11 kills, with Olson hitting .375 and Madziewicz .364. Dominika Bartosz also recorded 11 kills and three aces. Macie Metcalf led MNU with 21 assists and added nine digs, while Winebarger finished with 18 assists and four aces. Emily Mathis anchored the defense with 26 digs and added two aces.
Game 1 Turning Point
Trailing two sets to none and 21-19 late in the third, MNU scored four straight points to take a 23-21 lead.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Kennedy Smalley: 15 kills (.303)
Mia Olson: 11 kills (.375), 1 solo block
Pola Madziewicz: 11 kills (.364)
Dominika Bartosz: 11 kills, 8 digs, 3 aces
Macie Metcalf: 21 assists, 9 digs
Callie Winebarger: 18 assists, 7 digs, 4 aces
Emily Mathis: 26 digs, 8 assists, 2 aces
Malasy Sakounlaphoum: 4 aces
In Game 2, MNU was unable to carry the momentum into the afternoon match as Columbia defeated the Pioneers 25-23, 25-14, 23-25, 25-17. Columbia hit .280 for the match while holding MNU to .063. The Pioneers finished with 49 kills but committed 39 attack errors.
MNU fell behind 12-3 in the opening set but steadily worked its way back. The Pioneers eventually erased the deficit and tied the set at 23, but Columbia scored the final two points to escape with the 25-23 victory. The Cougars then controlled the second set, building a 17-9 advantage on the way to a 25-14 win.
Facing a possible sweep, MNU responded in the third. The Pioneers built a 14-9 lead before Columbia rallied to tie the set at 20 and eventually move ahead 22-21. Bartosz answered with consecutive kills to put MNU back in front, and after Columbia tied it at 23, Pavlina Pelcova delivered a kill for set point. A Columbia attack error followed to give MNU the 25-23 victory.
Columbia regained control in the fourth, turning a 7-6 lead into a 12-7 advantage. MNU later put together a late 5-0 run to cut a 22-13 deficit to 22-17, but the Cougars scored the final three points to close out the match.
Bartosz led MNU with 12 kills and 10 digs, while Smalley added 10 kills. Olson and Madziewicz each finished with eight kills, with Olson hitting .412. Winebarger recorded 18 assists, while DeGraffenreid had 13 and Metcalf added 12. Mathis finished with 18 digs and five aces, and Sakounlaphoum added 20 digs and two aces.
Game 2 Turning Point
Columbia dominated Set 2 to take control.
Game 2 Individual Leaders
Dominika Bartosz: 12 kills, 10 digs, 2 blocks, 1 ace
Kennedy Smalley: 10 kills
Mia Olson: 8 kills (.412)
Callie Winebarger: 18 assists
Anna DeGraffenreid: 13 assists, 5 digs, 1 ace
Macie Metcalf: 12 assists, 3 digs
Malasy Sakounlaphoum: 20 digs, 2 aces
Emily Mathis: 18 digs, 5 aces
Up Next
The next match is Tuesday at home vs. University of St. Mary at 7:00.
