Jacks lose tight match against Fort Wayne

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BROOKINGS – The South State women's volleyball team was edged by Purdue Fort Wayne, 3-2, in a five-set thriller on Friday evening at Frost Arena.

The Mastodons took the first set 25-23 after scoring the final four points. SDSU would bounce back and take the second set 25-19, but then dropped the third set 25-17. The Jacks forced a fifth set with a 25-22 victory in the fourth set. 

The fifth set was very tight. The ‘Dons jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but the Jacks battled back and tied the game 6-6. The score was tied 10-10 when Fort Wayne went on a 4-0 scoring run to make it 14-10. SDSU would then score two points to make it 14-12, but Fort Wayne scored the next point to win the final set and take the match.

Crystal Burk led the Jacks with 18 kills and 14 digs. She was one of three SDSU players with a double-double. Makenzie Hennen had 14 kills and 10 digs and Ashlynn Smith had 12 kills and 10 digs. Tatum Pickar led SDSU with 23 digs and Maddie Fay had a team-high 26 assists. Anna Nerad had five blocks.

Katie Crowe led Fort Wayne with 28 kills, 16 digs and two blocks. Rachael Crucis had a team-high 32 digs. Madison Gates had 30 assists and Maddi Nell had 19. Madelyn Wurster had 14 kills.

SDSU is now 5-14 overall and 2-5 in the Summit League. The Jacks will hit the road next as they travel to Omaha to take on the Mavericks on Monday.