Box Score

MANKATO, Minn. - The Northern State Wolves fell just short of their second straight win over a Top 25 team and a second straight over their opponent Minnesota State, taking the Mavericks to five sets before falling 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 18-25, 11-15 Friday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball action.

The Wolves even out their season mark at 6-6 overall and are now 1-3 in NSIC play.  Minnesota State improved to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the loop, avenging an earlier four-set loss to the Wolves in early-season non-conference play with Friday night's victory.

NSU, coming off a big win over 19th-ranked MSU Moorhead on Tuesday, came out firing in the first three sets, breaking away from an 11-11 tie in the second to go up 21-14 and take control of the momentum.  Led by five kills from senior Kaleinani Kabalis in the third set, the Wolves took a 2-1 lead overall and needed just one more set win to pick up a historic win.

The Mavericks, however, regained their footing in the fourth set, riding out another seven kills from Kabalis to even the match at two sets apiece.

NSU jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead to open the decisive fifth set, forcing the Mavericks to burn an early timeout.  MSU responded with four straight points to tie things up before taking their first lead of the set at 10-9 and forcing the Wolves to call a timeout.  NSU called a second timeout four plays later after the Mavericks stretched the lead to 13-10, but could not stave off the Maverick win.

Kabalis paced the Wolves at the net, putting down 16 of her 22 kills on the night in the final three sets.  Freshmen Kelsey Chambers and Jussy Tuscherer finished with 13 and 10 kills, respectively, while fellow freshman Drew Smith notched her third straight match of 50+ assists, finishing the night with 52 helpers.

The Mavericks got 18 kills from Chelsea Fogerty and 16 from Jill Storlie.  Court Steinhauser added 15 kills and five assisted blocks, while Ellie Van De Steeg served up 66 assists.