MANDAN - Mandan earned its third WDA road win of the season, sweeping St. Mary's on Oct. 13 to stay in contention for a top six finish and avoid a play-in match to reach the West Region quarterfinals.

The teams played a back-and-forth opening set, which included several ties. Mandan prevailed 25-23. The Braves opened strong in set two, leading 8-4 before St. Mary' would gain some traction and tie it, 9-9. However, the Braves would again string points together and post the set win. Mandan again used its strong serving and net play to complete the sweep and earn a second victory over St. Mary's.

Mandan improved to 4-8 in the Western Dakota Association and 11-13 overall, while St. Mary's fell to 2-11 in the conference and 7-18 overall.

Aubrey Karsky led Mandan with eight kills, showcasing her offensive prowess throughout the match. Sierra Gustavsson was instrumental in setting up the offense with 23 assists, ensuring a smooth flow of play for the Braves.

On the defensive end, Hadley Harris contributed significantly with 16 digs and added three aces, providing a solid backcourt presence for Mandan. For St. Mary's, Emily Stroh was a standout with eight kills, while Sophia Schlinger and Sydney Kukowski each recorded 13 digs. Maggie Meyer supported the Saints' attack with 13 assists.

Looking ahead, Mandan will face Legacy, who holds a 10-3 WDA record and an 18-8 overall record, on October 15. St. Mary's will take on Minot, with a 4-9 WDA record and 11-14 overall, also on October 15.