DILLON, Mont. -- Bismarck State volleyball closed out its Montana road trip with a much-needed answer, knocking off Montana Western 3-1 (26-24, 18-25, 25-17, 25-22) on Saturday morning.
The win improves BSC to 3-7 overall and 1-4 in Frontier Conference play, snapping a five-match losing streak. Montana Western falls to 4-8 overall and 3-2 in conference. The victory also moves Bismarck State to 2-1 all-time against the Bulldogs.
Set One: Mystics Survive Extra Points
BSC jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind kills from Reese Duchsherer, Jordyn Rood and Aislyn Hogan, and built the advantage to 17-12 before Montana Western answered with six of the next seven points to tie it at 19-19. The set stayed knotted the rest of the way -- tied at 23-23 and again at 24-24 -- before Bismarck State closed out the final two points to escape with a 26-24 win.
Set Two: Bulldogs Even the Match
Montana Western flipped the momentum in set two. Leading just 8-5, the Bulldogs scored four of the next five points -- including back-to-back service aces from Taylor Ketchum -- to seize control. BSC pulled back within one late, but Montana Western pushed the lead back to five and cruised to a 25-18 set win to even the match.
Set Three: Mystics Answer and Take Control
Montana Western jumped ahead 7-3 behind a six-point run to open the set, but Bismarck State responded in a big way, scoring 12 of the next 14 points to seize control and never look back en route to a 25-17 win.
Set Four: Mystics Close It Out
Montana Western erased a 12-9 BSC lead with a five-point run to go up 14-12, but the Mystics answered immediately with three straight points -- capped by an Aislyn Hogan kill -- to reclaim the lead. Bismarck State stayed in front the rest of the way, getting a Piper Harris service ace at 19-15 before closing out the match with a 25-22 set win.
Mystics Key Performers
Game Notes
- BSC hit .158 as a team compared to Montana Western's .109
- The win snaps a five-match losing streak and moves Bismarck State to 2-1 all-time against Montana Western
- The Bulldogs are currently the only Frontier Conference team to have lost twice to the Mystics
Bismarck State returns home for a four-match stretch at the Bavendick Center, beginning Friday, Sept. 18, against No. 7 Providence (Mont.) at 6 p.m. for "Light up the Bav Night." The Mystics host MSU-Northern the next day, Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m.
They then prepare for homecoming weekend against Carroll (Mont.) on Friday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. and Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m.
See the volleyball schedule for more information on how to follow and attend the upcoming home matches.
Be sure to visit BSCMystics.com and download the MysticNation app to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Mystic Athletics.
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