by Josh Berhow
Media Credit: Andrea Harrell
MSU's Danielle Zimmermann (right) blocks a South Dakota kill attempt Tuesday in the Mavs' four-set loss to USD at the Taylor Center.
In the North Central Conference, there's no such thing as an easy match. And the Minnesota State volleyball team is learning that the hard way, losing to the University of South Dakota Tuesday in the Taylor Center.
MSU couldn't rebound from an early 2-0 deficit and lost 3-1, with scores of 19-30, 26-30, 30-28 and 27-30. This drops the Mavericks to 15-6 overall with a 3-3 NCC record.
The Mavericks struggled early with numerous mental and hitting errors in the first game, and were never able to overcome the difference. The teams stayed right with each other until USD went on a 12-3 run to take the lead, and win the first game convincingly.
After losing the second game, MSU was down 28-26 in the third but fought back and scored four unanswered points to force a game four. MSU had the upper hand in the fourth game, leading most of it, but let it slip away at the end.
The Mavericks did have to play the match a little shorthanded. Junior outside hitter Ashley Nachreiner didn't dress for the match, nursing a sore shin. She leads the team in kills with 296.
"The kids are going to have to learn to overcome the fact that Ashley might not be able to play," said head coach Dennis Amundson. "Give a lot of credit to Lisa Rohret; she is our best passer, and stepped in and got some big kills for us."
With Nachreiner out, the Mavs looked to freshman Amanda Beekman to help carry the offense. And Beekman didn't disappoint, leading the team, and recording a team high 27 kills and .333 hitting percentage. The next highest kill total was Rohret's 11; Rohret also added 23 digs.
"We are going to have to go back to practice and do what we do best, control the ball, and keep a positive attitude and move forward," said Beekman.
Stef Sandstrom led the team with 54 assists, and Kelly Sandstrom had a team high 25 digs.
Up next, MSU will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., for a conference match against No. 11 Augustana Friday.
In the previous meeting, MSU lost 3-2 in the Taylor Center to the Vikings. MSU seemed to outplay Augustana in every category, but couldn't bring it together for the win.
Nachreiner led the team with 26 kills and 21 digs in the first meeting, but due to injury her availability for the game is unknown. MSU will look to its depth to provide some relief if Nachreiner isn't available.
"We will need to pass consistently, and that's something that doesn't show up on the stat sheet," Amundson said. "We need to give our setter three different options."
The Vikings are a very good defensive team with two players recording more than 29 digs in the prior meeting. Libero Jenna Lago led the team with 32 digs and is second in the NCC in total digs.
"Jenna was able to watch some tape on Amanda [Beekman] for the last match, but Amanda has improved since then," said Amundson. "She's using the block more and is hitting the ball harder. Jenna will get her digs but Amanda will get her share of kills too."
The Mavericks are looking to snap their three-match losing streak, and have a sense of urgency with six conference matches left in the season.
"Friday is going to be a big day for us so we can prove we can come out of this deficit we're in," said Danielle Zimmermann. "We are going to resort back to what we know, and apply everything we have learned. We need to be able to prove to ourselves the team we really can be."
Josh Berhow is a Reporter staff writer
