NACOGDOCHES, Texas - In the opening match of the Chilly Fillmore's SFA Invitational, the Fighting Sioux (8-3) defeated Rice (3-6), 3-2. It was a come-from-behind win for the Sioux, who trailed 1-2 (23-25, 25-16, 17-25) heading into the fourth set.
"We got behind two games to one due to a few too many service errors," head coach Ashley Hardee said. "Then in the fourth set, we had to really fight back."
Trailing 10-15, the Sioux fired from all cylinders to knot the set at 16-16. The teams traded points until a kill from senior outside hitter Annika Smed (Albert Lea, Minn.) and an attack error by the Owls gave UND the 23-20 advantage. Rice responded, but the Sioux countered with each attack. Sophomore middle blocker Ronni Munkeby (Lisbon, Minn.) landed the final blow to give UND the 25-23 win.
Finishing with a .429 attack percentage while holding Rice to just four kills, the Sioux won the final set 15-5 to take the match.
"I loved the toughness that the team showed tonight," Hardee said. "We didn't get rattled, even when we were down. We kept our composure, and that was key in getting that victory tonight.
"Today was an offensive breakout for us," Hardee said. "Our hitters were fantastic against a very good Rice team."
As a team, UND finished with a season-high .317 attack percentage and 70 kills, while holding Rice to a .231 hitting percentage and 53 kills. The Sioux also tallied a season-high eight aces.
With 16 kills and 10 digs, Smed finished the night with her fourth double-double of the season. Smed's kill tally was enough to land her a spot in UND's elite 1,000 Kill Club. As a member of the 1,000 Dig Club already, she now sits as one of seven Sioux to break the century mark both in digs and kills during their career.
Senior outside hitter Devin Trefz (Bagley, Minn.) topped the team with 18 kills on 40 swings and freshman outside hitter Felicia Ulrich (Woodbury, Minn.) had a breakout night, finishing with a career-high 14 kills and a .520 hitting percentage. Also with career marks, Munkeby finished the match with 13 kills to tie her career high set on Sept. 11, 2010. Redshirt freshman setter Nikki Husfeldt (Andover, Minn.) added to the offence with 49 assists.
"Felicia had an unbelievable night, as did Ronni," Hardee said. "Lisa Parlich had a bit of an injury to start the match, so we moved Ronnie into the middle. Both of those girls did a phenomenal job stepping in."
On defense, senior defensive specialist Taylor Bohannon (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) notched a career-high 18 digs. Trefz and classmate Tia Russell (MB, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) landed six blocks apiece.
The tournament continues tomorrow as UND takes on host Stephen F. Austin at 12:30 p.m. and Sam Houston State at 5 p.m.
- Go Sioux -
