WATERTOWN, SD – The Mayville State University Comets have advanced to the semifinals of the North Star Athletic Association Conference Tournament, as they defeated the Presentation College Saints 3-1 Friday afternoon at the Watertown Civic Arena in Watertown, South Dakota.
 
After dropping the first set 25-19, Mayville State took control.
 
"It was really good to see us bounce back after the first set loss and a few momentum shifts," Comets head coach Lindsey Johnson said.
 
The Comets opened the second set on a 5-1 run, paced by three kills by Victoria Johnson. The Saints then came back, pulling to within one point, 5-4, on back-to-back-to-back kills by the Saints, including two by Alyssa Haberer. The Comets, however, would never relinquish the lead, as Johnson racked up eight kills alone in the second set, more than half of her game total 14.
 
Set three saw the Comets dominate early, setting the pace by jumping to a 9-2 lead out of the gate. Freshman Amy Seim was successful at the serving line, serving up six straight points, including an ace to begin the run for the Comets. Kiana Johnson stepped up big, slamming home a pass from Elora Passa, for one of her game-high 18 kills.
 
Presentation fought back, taking a 17-14 lead midway through the third set.
 
But, Mayville State answered, rallying for a 5-0 run of their own, to retake the lead 19-17 in the late goings of the third set. The Comets would allow four more Saints points, but would never relinquish the lead, going away 25-21 in the third set.
 
The fourth set was a defensive battle from the onset, as both teams went back-and-forth in the early minutes, with neither team gaining an advantage early – as the game was tied 7-7. But, as was in the set prior, Mayville State found their feet, jumping out to an 11-7 advantage on the hands of a kill by Kiana Johnson and ace by Passa, adding to a couple of attack errors by the Saints.
 
Presentation clawed back, tying the set at 18-18, but back-to-back Kiana Johnson kills pulled to Comets ahead by two points, 20-18. On the next serve, by Jordyn Lucas, Presentation was able to put the ball on the Comets side of the floor, making it a one-point set and setting up an exciting finish in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
 
With Presentation serving to tie the set, Ashley Pyburn and Passa blocked an attack attempted by the Saints, making it 21-19 in favor of the Comets. Back-to-back kills by Hannah Bliss and a service ace by Passa pulled the Comets ahead 24-19. The Comets gave up a point to Presentation on an attack error by Bliss, but on the next serve, it was all Mayville State.
 
Passa set up the winning point, which was sent to the floor by Kiana Johnson.
 
"I feel like we showed a lot of composure and did a great job finding a way to get it done," coach Johnson said.
 
Mayville State was led by three Comets in double figures in kills—Kiana Johnson, 18; Victoria Johnson, 14; and Hannah Bliss, 12. Passa finished with 46 assists, pacing the Comets. Three Comets had double digits in digs—Jayden Warner, 40; Bliss, 21; and Seim, 16.
 
The Comets will now face the Viterbo V-Hawks in the semifinals of the tournament. The semifinal game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at the Watertown Civic Arena.
 
"We are excited to get the opportunity to be playing tonight," coach Johnson said. "Viterbo is a great team, but I feel like we have done a great job of competing with them, so I am looking forward to it."
 
The winner of the Comets/V-Hawks will advance to the championship match, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow.