TUCSON, Ariz. – The North Dakota State volleyball team closed out non-conference action with a 3-1 win over Southern Utah on Friday night at the Arizona Wildcat Classic at McKale Memorial Center.
Ali Hinze posted a team-best 15 kills with eight digs, four blocks, three assists and one service ace. Alexis Boling contributed 12 kills with a .455 hitting percentage and Lauren Jansen narrowly missed a double-double with a career-best 14 digs and nine kills. Maddy Dombeck also handed out a team-high 24 assists.
As a team, the Bison (4-5) totaled a season-best 70 digs with 10 different players contributing at least one. Logan O’Brien paced NDSU with a match-high 23 digs.
After Southern Utah (4-6) grabbed the opening frame, NDSU responded in the second set building an 8-2 advantage with a pair of kills from Hinze. The Bison, who recorded a match-best .433 hitting percentage in the frame, quickly doubled up the Thunderbirds, 14-7, with an ace from Jansen. NDSU went on to take the second set, 25-17.
NDSU once again used a quick start in the third frame to jump out to a 15-10 lead at the midway point with a kill from Hinze. Following a pair of Thunderbird kills, the Bison took advantage of three attack errors and used an ace from O’Brien to stretch their edge to 19-12. NDSU held off Southern Utah the rest of the way to win the set, 25-20.
The Bison carried the momentum into the fourth set with an 8-1 run capped off by a kill from Jansen to steal a 12-7 lead. NDSU then began to put the frame out of reach with a 7-2 run to make the score 19-10 after an attack error. The Bison went on to win the set, 25-15, and the match, 3-1.
NDSU will be back in action next Thursday to open up Summit League play at St. Thomas. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.