Mayville, N.D. – The Comet volleyball team clinched the second seed in the NSAA tournament on Saturday by defeating Dakota State by a final of 3-1. The Comets finish the regular season with a 22-9 overall record and 11-3 in conference play.
The Comets started the first set on a 9-3 run, during that run Pyburn and Johnson each tallied a kill. The Trojans went on a run during the middle of the set to close the gap to four before MSU on a 4-0 run to jump up to eight at 19-11. The Comets and Trojans traded points late in the first set and the Comets would win the first set by a final of 25-19.
With the second set tied at six, the Trojans went on a 10-3 run to jump out to a six-point lead on the Comets. The Comets were down 23-13 late in the second set before a 5-0 run cut the lead to five but the Comets could not overcome the deficit and lost set two by a final of 25-18. A couple of early runs in the third set put the score tied at ten before a 5-1 Comet run to give them a four-point lead. MSU would have a late 3-0 run to give them a 21-15 lead and take the third set by a final of 25-18.
The Trojans started the third set on a 7-3 run followed by a 3-0 Comet run to cut the DSU lead to three. A few points later, the Comets went on a 5-0 run to take a three-point lead. DSU would take the lead back shortly after with a 4-0 run to take a 14-15 lead. The Comets would score 11 of the next 12 points and take the final set by a final of 25-16.
The Comets finished with 53 kills, 20 attacking errors, 194 total attempts for a .170 hitting percentage. Mayville State also finished with 123 digs, 49 assists, 10 blocks, and two aces. Victoria Johnson was one of three Comets in double figures in kills with 15 kills, a .265 hitting percentage, and 2.5 total blocks. Mason Hart finished with 40 digs and two kills for the Comets. Amy Seim and Jordyn Lucas recorded 24 and 23 digs respectively.
Lily Pyle finished with 12 kills and five blocks. Elora Passa finished with 10 kills, 28 assists, and 12 digs in the back row.
The Comets will host Valley City State on Tuesday for the first round of the NSAA Tournament. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 pm from the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.