The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team opened the 2013 regular seasonwith a pair of matches in the Winona State tournament at McCown Gymnasium on Friday afternoon. Despite battling tough, the Bearcats (0-2) dropped matches to Minnesota State Moorhead (2-0) and host Winona State (2-0).

In the first game against MSU Moorhead, the Bearcats battled tough down to the last point but were unable to overcome an early deficit. In her first collegiate match, freshman Miranda Foster led the team with 11 kills. She also added 11 digs defensively. Senior Bridget Hanafin tallied 33 assists and added nine digs. Defensive specialists Bailey Vance and Aarika Wittenburg each reached double-digit dig totals as well, recording 18 and 11, respectively.Senior Mackie Keller recorded two blocks.

In the night cap, Northwest gave the host Warriors all they could handle, taking the match to a decisive fifth set. The Bearcats claimed wins in sets two and three before falling short in the fourth and fifth sets. The Bearcats were led offensively again by Foster who recorded 17 kills. Sophomore Shelby Duren had 14 kills and Keller added 11. Hanafin added 41 assists. Defensively, Vance recorded 23 digs, followed by Foster with 17, Duren with 15, Wittenburg with 14 and Hanafin with 11.

The Bearcats will finish the season-opening tournament tomorrow with games against St. Joseph’s College and Upper Iowa at 1:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively. The Bearcat’s first home game is scheduled for Sept. 17 against Missouri Western at 7 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —