GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Following five straight wins on the road, the
Fighting Sioux brought their winning ways back to Grand Forks as they registered a quick 3-
0 sweep over Texas-Pan American.
"Tonight was a fun match to watch," head coach Ashley Hardee said. "Much of the time, I was
able to just sit back and watch the plays unfold."
North Dakota (21-4, 7-1 Great West) opened with a 25-13 win in the opening set, and
followed with a quick 24-10 victory in set two to take a 2-0 lead into the break.
The Broncs (7-19, 1-5 Great West) worked their way to a 6-4 lead to open the third set,
but found the lead to be short-lived. The Sioux quickly recovered from the two-point deficit
and set out on a 6-3 run to take a 12-7 advantage. Down the stretch, UTPA pulled to within
three points (18-15), but then a string of Bronc errors opened the door for the 25-17 win
for the Sioux.
Led by eight kills from Bagely, Minn., native Devin Trefz (Sr., OH), 11 Sioux players added
to UND's final 42 kills. Sophomore middle hitter Ronni Munkeby (Lisbon, N.D.) and
freshman outside hitter Lexi Robinson (Ramsey, Minn.) finished
with seven and six kills, respectively, and senior middle blocker Tia Russell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and
sophomore middle blocker Lisa Parlich (Delevan, Wis.) landed five kills
apiece.
Senior outside hitter Annika Smed (Albert Lea, Minn.) and
freshman outside hitter Felicia Ulrich (Woodbury, Minn.) each
finished with three kills, freshman outside hitter Emily Asche (Grand Forks, Minn.) landed
two, and redshirt freshman setter Nikki Husfeldt (Andover, Minn.),
sophomore setter Ellen Krueger (Lakeville, Minn.) and
redshirt freshman Kim Kuechel (LeSueur, Minn.) finished with one kill apiece.
"These final two conference matches are very important," Hardee said. "We want to stay
ahead of the other teams, and that means having the ability to work a few different
combinations. These teams are watching film and trying to prepare for us, but it's hard to
prepare when we're throwing three, four or five different looks at them."
Husfeldt and Krueger combined for 40 assists on the evening, and helped the Sioux to a
.326 hitting percentage.
"Our setters did a great job of moving the ball around tonight," Hardee said. "Their
ability to work both sides of the net makes us unpredictable, and that's never a bad thing."
Defensively, Russell led the team with eight blocks (all assists) and senior libero Taylor Bohannon (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.)
finished with a team-high 15 digs.
The Fighting Sioux will take on Houston Baptist this Saturday at 2 p.m. to commemorate
Senior Day. It will also serve as the final home match for the Sioux until the Great West
Conference Tournament to be held Nov. 17-18 at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
- Go Sioux -
