GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota volleyball team hit the court for the first time on Saturday as the white squad swept the green squad in the four-game scrimmage at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The white team was comprised of mostly returners and key players from last year's 24-win team, while the green team featured mostly newcomers and underclassmen.
The white team took the first three games by wide margins of 25-13, 25-15, 25-20 before having to rally in game four for a 26-24 triumph. The green team led that match 24-20 before senior Lindsay Vortherms (Windom, Minn.) served out the next six points to lead the white team to the sweep. Vortherms, who is closing in on the career record for digs at UND, led all players in that category with 20.
"For our first time competing, I thought we did a great job," first-year head coach Ashley Hardee, who guided the white squad, said. "Our energy level was high. We served the ball well and our outside hitters did a nice job of pass serve-receive.
"Our returners lost a little focus in games three and four, but we were able to come-from-behind and win that fourth game. That was nice to see them regain their composure and get the job done."
Sophomore Devin Trefz (Bagley, Minn.) led all Sioux players with 18 kills as she spent her night playing for the white team. Senior Britta Hanson (Thompson, N.D.) and sophomore Annika Smed (Albert Lea, Minn.) also added 10 kills a piece for the white squad.
Junior Erin Joki (Grand Rapids, Minn.) split time between the white and green teams and finished the scrimmage with 14 kills in 21 total attacks. Setters Megan Langseth (Alexandria, Minn.) and sophomore Danielle Luetzen (Minot, N.D.) finished with 40 and 34 assists, respectively. Langseth set for the white team, while Luetzen did likewise for the green squad.
Assistant coach Mike Moffitt (Lubbock, Texas) served as a player-coach for the green team and had nine kills.
The Fighting Sioux will open their regular season next Friday, Aug. 28, at the Indiana State Tournament. UND will face the host Sycamores in the opening match of the two-day event at 12 p.m.
