Vortherms named Great West Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week

Women's Volleyball 9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM Ryan Powell, UND Media Relations

Sioux volleyball extends win streak to four, ousts Gonzaga in non-conference play

Spokane, Wash. – The University of North Dakota volleyball team extended its win streak to four matches on Wednesday after posting a 3-1 victory over Gonzaga at the Martin Centre (15-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-22). The Sioux, who improved to 9-5, dropped the opening set, but took the next three sets from the Bulldogs (3-8) to post back-to-back road wins on their brief road trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Senior Lindsay Vortherms (Windom, Minn.) had 20 digs to bring her career total to 1,503 and move into second place on the all-time list at UND. Sophomore Devin Trefz (Bagley, Minn.) added 13 kills to once again pace the Sioux in that category. Trefz has led the Sioux in kills in 13 of 14 matches this season.

“We came out a little slow in the first game and that cost us,” UND head coach Ashley Hardee said. “We weren't aggressive on either side of the ball, but we got that turned around in game two and took the momentum back. I liked the resolve of our team to be able to finish off a match like this in a hostile environment.”

Junior Erin Joki (Grand Rapids, Minn.) also reached double figures in kills with 10 and led the team with a .318 attack percentage.

After Gonzaga breezed to a 25-15 opening set victory, the Sioux returned the favor in the second set, dropping the Zags, 25-14 to even the match at a set a piece. UND had just one block in that opening set, but posted seven in the second set.

“We blocked a ton of balls in that second set after letting them have their way in the first set,” Hardee added. “That really turned things around in our favor. We knew they were not going to go away, but our team remained focused and came through with a nice win on the road.”

Things appeared bleak for the Sioux early on the in the third set as the Zags built a 10-5 advantage, but the Sioux quickly turned the tables with a 7-1 run to take a 12-11 lead. UND never trailed again in the set, cruising to a 25-18 victory.

After registering only two kills in the first two sets, sophomore Annika Smed (Albert Lea, Minn.) responded with five kills in the pivotal third-set victory. She finished one kill shy of a double-double as she post nine in the match to go with 11 digs.

The Sioux withstood a late rally by the Zags in the fourth set that saw the home team square the set at 22-22 after trailing by as many as five earlier in the set. However, UND quickly regrouped behind senior Britta Hanson (Thompson, N.D.), who had one of her nine block assists and a kill down the stretch to close out the match. Hanson finished with 10 total blocks and added seven kills.

Senior setter Megan Langseth (Alexandria, Minn.) had 40 assists, eight digs and four block assists

UND will return to action on Saturday for a non-conference match against SeattleU at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The match is set for a 7 p.m. start. The Sioux defeated the Redhawks in five sets on Tuesday in Seattle.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Lindsay Vortherms: DS/L; 5' 8"; Freshman

#4 Britta Hanson: MH/RS; 6' 0"; Freshman

#6 Megan Langseth: DS/S; 5' 8"; Freshman

#8 Devin Trefz: OH; 6' 1"; Freshman

#2 Annika Smed: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Lindsay Vortherms
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: DS/L

#4 Britta Hanson
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MH/RS

#6 Megan Langseth
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: DS/S

#8 Devin Trefz
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OH

#2 Annika Smed
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH