NACOGDOCHES, Texas - With a 3-1 win over Sam Houston State, the University of North Dakota went an undefeated 3-0 over the weekend to win the Chilly Fillmore's SFA Invitational. Along with the tournament title, sophomore middle blocker Ronni Munkeby was voted the tournament MVP and true freshman outside hitter Felicia Ulrich was named to the all-tournament team.
"It was a great weekend for us," head coach Ashley Hardee said. "We set out with a goal to win the tournament, and we did just that. We're inching closer towards conference play, and another tournament title will help give us the momentum we need to start the schedule off strong."
A native of Lisbon, N.D., Munkeby finished the weekend with 35 kills (2.69/set), a .358 hitting percentage, 17 blocks, and 43.5 points (3.35/set). Over the course of the tournament, she reached career highs in kills (13) and attacks (32), and season highs in total blocks (nine), block assists (nine), and points (15.5).
Ulrich, a Woodbury, Minn., native, finished with 40 kills (3.08/set), a .459 attack percentage, seven blocks (0.54/set), and 43.5 points (3.35/set). She hit new career marks in kills (14), attacks (25), attack percentage (.520), digs (10), blocks (four), block assists (four), and points (19).
UND captured the win over Sam Houston State after falling to the Bearkats 23-25 in the initial set.
"In the first set, Sam Houston State set out as the aggressor," Hardee said. "After a few adjustments, we got our bearings and were able to match their aggression and eventually shut them down."
The Sioux held the advantage in the second set, trailing just one time. With a 20-18 lead down the final stretch, UND went on a 5-0 run to win the set 25-18 and knot the match at 1-1. UND brought that momentum in the third set, this time never giving up the advantage. After breaking an 11-11 tie, the Sioux out-scored Sam Houston State 14-5 to win the frame 25-16 and take a 2-1 lead.
In the final set, the Bearkats held an early advantage, but it proved to be short-lived. After breaking a 7-7 tie, the Sioux went out on a 9-2 run to take the 16-9 lead. Sam Houston scored the next two points to cut the margin down to five, but costly errors and a string of solid kills by the Sioux allowed UND to take the 25-14 win.
Senior outside hitter Devin Trefz (Bagley, Minn.) led the way on offence with 15 kills on a season-high 49 swings. Munkeby finished with 11 kills on a career-best 32 swings, Ulrich added nine kills, and seniors Annika Smed (OH, Albert Lea, Minn.) and Tia Russell (MB, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) finished with eight kills apiece. Redshirt freshman setter Nikki Husfeldt (Andover, Minn.) tallied 47 assists and Russell notched a team-high two aces.
Defensively, Russell landed four blocks, Munkeby, Husfeldt and Smed tallied three apiece, and both Trefz and Ulrich recorded a pair. Senior defensive specialist Taylor Bohannon (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) garnered a career-high 19 digs.
As a team, UND out-hit the Bearkats .216-.085, and held them under .100 in each of the final three sets. The Sioux also held a 10-7 blocking advantage.
After a two-week hiatus, the Fighting Sioux will finally return to Grand Forks. They host Nebraska Omaha on Sept. 23 and South Dakota State on Sept. 27. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m. at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
NOTES: North Dakota is 16-12 against first-time opponents since 2009 ... Head coach Ashley Hardee holds a career record of 57-14 at UND ... Fighting Sioux top 10 career watch list: Devin Trefz is No. 2 in rally points scored (1,427.0), No. 5 in attack attempts (3,247), and No. 6 in kills (1,182); Annika Smed is No. 6 in rally points scored (1,239.5) and No. 9 in digs (1,168) ... Trefz surpassed Heather Hanson's (2001-03) 1,268.5 career points to move into the No. 2 spot. She needs just 19 more points to move past Tara Holmen's (2004-07) 1,445 career points to take over as UND's all-time leader. She also surpassed Tara Holmen's (2004-07) 1,170 career kills to move into the No. 6 spot.
- Go Sioux -
