GRAND FORKS, N.D. - In the opening match of North Dakota's 2011 Great West Conference season, the Utah Valley Wolverines drove out of town with a 3-1 win over the Fighting Sioux and put an end to UND's seven-match winning streak.
"This wasn't one of those nights where you go out, take one swing, and get the kill," head coach Ashley Hardee said. "There were some really long rallies on the court tonight, and I know that we are prepared to get in there, mix it up and win some of those long plays. There were just some times tonight where we just didn't show that resiliency."
The Wolverines (11-6, 1-0 GWC), picked to finish second on the 2011 GWC Preseason Coaches Poll, took an early lead in the initial set and never looked back. They scored the final five points to win the set 25-14 and take a 1-0 lead over the Sioux (12-4, 0-1).
In the second set, UVU again jumped out to an early lead, but after trailing 10-6, the Sioux went out on a 7-1 run to knot the set at 17-17. The teams went point-for-point down the stretch until a pair of Sioux errors ended the set. With the 26-24 win, the Wolverines took a 2-0 lead into the break.
The Sioux cancelled the sweep with a 25-15 win in the third frame. Trailing 8-9 sophomore middle blocker Ronni Munkeby (Lisbon, N.D.) registered a kill to tie the set at 9-9. That point set off a rally for the Sioux as they rattled off nine straight points to take a commanding 18-9 lead. Unable to recover, UVU gave up a set and sent the match in to a fourth set.
Utah Valley won the final set, 25-16.
The Sioux were led on the attack by senior outside hitter Devin Trefz (Bagley, Minn.), who finished with 13 kills. She also added three blocks and a pair of aces. Senior libero Taylor Bohannon (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) finished with a team-high 20 digs and redshirt freshman Nikki Husfeldt (Andover, Minn.) recorded 37 assists.
Senior middle blocker Tia Russell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) landed a team-high six blocks (one solo). Russell, Trefz and Munkeby combined for 14 blocks on the night.
"It's important that we bounce back from this," Hardee said. "As the old saying goes, 'You have to take it one game at a time.' We were in this situation two years ago when we lost to Utah Valley on the road. I like our team and I think we're in a good spot still. We'll be in competition for the Great West title when we head to Utah in November."
North Dakota will host NJIT and Chicago State in conference action next week. The Sioux will take on the Highlanders at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6, and will face the Cougars at 5 p.m. on Oct. 8.
- Go Sioux -
