The Briar Cliff volleyball team fell to Valley City State and Mount Mercy Saturday at the Charger Invite. Sami Wasmund led the Cliff in kills on the day with 23 total.
 
Game 1 vs Valley City State – L, 3-0
The Vikings scored the first two points of the match and would hold the edge throughout the first set. The Chargers made pushes, pulling within a point of the Valley City State lead. After the Vikings took a 16-11 lead, the Chargers answered with four straight points with a pair of kills from Makynna Snow and a block from Toria Andre and Kiersten Baker. Snow was involved in three of the four points, notching a block, alongside Olivia Corey. The Vikings would out score the Chargers 9-3 to close out set one 25-18.
 
The Chargers fought back in set two, holding the lead for the majority of the set. The Chargers were led by Sami Wasmund, who totaled eight kills and one ace in the set. While the Blue and Gold held the lead, the Vikings stayed within three points throughout.  The Vikings rallied late with a 6-2 run to take the second set 25-23.
 
The second set was the Chargers best hitting set, as they totaled 18 kills on a .295 hitting percentage.
 
The Vikings jumped out to a 16-7 lead in set three with a mid-set run. The Chargers started to chip away, bringing the lead down to 20-16 with a 8-3 run. The Vikings would hold off the BC push, securing the sweep 25-18.
 
Wasmund had a game high 14 kills on a .423 hitting percentage with a pair of blocks. Andre and Snow added nine kills apiece and three total blocks. Avery Beller led all players with 17 digs.
 
Game 2 vs Mount Mercy – L, 3-1
Wasmund continued her strong day with four kills, two blocks and an ace in the first set against the Mustangs. After a back-and-forth start to the set, the Chargers grabbed the lead on a 5-1 run, capped off by a Wasmund kill, assisted by Yenne Schepers. The Cliff would maintain the lead as they took the set 25-18.
 
The Charger attack struggled in the second and third sets, totaling 12 kills on a -.06 hitting percentage.
 
Briar Cliff went toe-to-toe with the Mustangs to begin the fourth set. With the score tied 9-9, the Chargers outscored the Mustangs 10-4 with a pair of aces from Anesa Davenport and Jaice Johnsen. Filimaua Afatia tallied two kills, while Andre had a kill and a block in the run. The Mustangs mounted a comeback, taking a 25-24 lead, and with the Chargers facing match point, Wasmund put down a kill to tie at 25-all. Mount Mercy, however, would score two straight to end the contest 3-1.
 
Wasmund had nine kills, followed by Snow's seven and Andre and Baker's five.
 
Andre was a force at the net for the Blue and Gold, totaling 10 blocks. Beller totaled 19 digs, followed by Yenne Schepers' 15. Davenport tallied two of BC's six aces.
 
The Chargers will face #5 Northwestern next Wednesday night in Orange City, Iowa. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Bultman Center.