Huskies drop two at homecoming

The Huskies lost their third and fourth straight matches this weekend.

They fell to 2-8 in the NSIC and 7-13 overall after the losses to the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and the Bemidji State Beavers.

The Huskies matches were the first two of four that will be called “Dig Pink,” in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

To fund awareness for breast cancer the Huskies will be selling “Dig Pink” t-shirts for $10 at all of their October home games.

Friday

Friday the Huskies took on the Bulldogs of Minnesota-Duluth.

The Bulldogs came in ranked number 10 in the nation and boasted an undefeated record in the NSIC.

The Huskies looked to change that as a kill by freshmen Taylor Beebe tied the first game score at 18.

But the upset was not meant to be for the Huskies as they fell to the Bulldogs.

They lost the first and closest of the games 25-19. They lost the next two games 25-17 and 25-13.

Leading the Bulldogs was Alyssa Nelson who had 14 kills. Also in double-digit
kills was Anna Zyvoloski. Rachel Jacobson added 21 digs for the Bulldogs.

The Huskies’ first-year hitter Lauren Cipperly led the Huskies with 10 kills and Kiersten Mormann added 24 set assists.

The SCSU digs leader for the match was freshemn libero Sarah Madden with 12.

Saturday

Although they lost three straight to the Bemidji Beavers, the games were much closer than the final score portrayed.

The Huskies lost the first game 25-23 after a Courtney Bitter kill.

Game two turned into a marathon as the Huskies and the Beavers battled back and forth.

Eventually the Beavers came out on top 32-30, winning three straight points to take the set.

The third set was a more comfortable win for the Beavers as they shutout the Huskies and ruined their homecoming.

They took the last game 25-20, taking a 16-15 lead on another Courtney Bitter kill an never looking back.

Courtney Bitter led the victorious Beavers posting 41 set assists, 10 digs and eight kills, including those two important ones.

Also in double-digit kills for the Beavers were Nicole Olson and Laura Slinger who had 14 and 13 respectively.

Four Beavers had doubledigit digs in the match. Brie Groskreutz led all players with 16.

The Huskies were led by junior middle hitter Kayla Tschida who had 15 kills and 12 digs.

Also posting double-digit digs were Chelsea Nagle and Sarah Madden who had 11 and 14 respectively.

Kiersten Mormann led the Huskies with 35 set assists.

In the Match Sarah Madden broke 300 digs and is not sitting at 305 for the season.

Just 68 more and she will be top-10 all time for most digs in a season.

Both Tschida and junior Ashley Shields are over 200 kills on the season.

Tschida easily surpassed her career high which was 193.  With the loss the Huskies drop to 2-8 in the NSIC and 6-16 overall.

Up next for the Huskies are the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs.

They play Friday in Marshall at 7 p.m.

Saturday the Huskies play at 4 p.m. in Mankato.

Their next home games are Oct. 30-31 against Wayne State and Augustana. The games will also be “Dig Pink” matches.