GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Back at home for the first time in two weeks, it was business as usual for the Fighting Sioux as they defeated Nebraska Omaha 3-1. Now an undefeated 5-0 at home, the victory extended UND's winning streak to six matches.
"Playing at home is a big deal for us," head coach Ashley Hardee said. "We have a growing fan-base and we appreciate everyone who comes out to watch. We're always going to take care of our home court. The goal always to go undefeated at home and so far we're off to a great start."
UND (11-3) opened the match with a 25-15 win in the initial set. The Mavericks (2-13) kept the score tight, but 9-1 run late in the frame gave UND the 21-12 advantage.
UNO evened the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 victory in the second frame.
"They gained a little bit of confidence and their outside hitters started landed some kills," said Hardee. "We went into the lockerroom and regrouped a little bit. That allowed us to come out with a different speed."
Looking to regain the lead, UND came out strong in the third set. The Sioux quickly shot out to an 8-4 lead and set out on a 12-0 run. With the eventual 25-7 win, the Fighting Sioux tied the program record for the least amount of points allowed in a set since rally scoring was adopted in 2001, and tied the record for the least amount of points allowed since the NCAA lowered the point requirement from 30 to 25 points in 2008.
The record was established on Aug. 31, 2002 when the Sioux defeated Evergreen State, 30-7, in the third set of a sweep over the Geoducks at the Hawaiian Style Classic in Hilo, Hawaii. The mark has been reached three times prior to tonight's match - twice against Chicago State (Nov. 5, 2009, Nov. 4, 2010) and earlier this year against Southern Utah (Sept. 3).
UND solidified tonight's win over the Mavericks with a 25-16 victory in the fourth set.
Leading the way for North Dakota was senior outside hitter Devin Trefz. The Bagley, Minn., native tallied a team-high 11 kills and 10 digs to register her second double-double of the season. Classmate Annika Smed (OH, Albert Lea, Minn.) and sophomore middle blocker Ronni Munkeby (Lisbon, N.D.) finished with eight kills apiece.
Redshirt freshman setter Nikki Husfeldt (Andover, Minn.) tallied her third double-double of the season, finishing with 36 assists and 10 digs. With a trio of aces from Trefz and senior defensive specialist Taylor Bohannon (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), UND held an 8-1 advantage over the Mavs.
Defensively, Bohannon finished with a team- and career-high 29 digs, and Munkeby landed a pair of blocks.
"We showed a lot of resilience tonight," Bohannon said. "We came out and played our normal game in the first set, but then in game two we had a bit of a lapse. We felt a little bit down, but it was very important to get everyone in the lockerrom and calm down. It showed a lot for our team to come back out and win sets three and four."
North Dakota will host another former NCC foe, South Dakota State, on Tuesday, Sept. 27. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
NOTES: Head coach Ashley Hardee holds a career record of 58-14 at UND ... The Sioux are now 12-41 against the Mavericks ... Fighting Sioux top 10 career watch list: Devin Trefz is No. 2 in rally points scored (1,442), No. 5 in attack attempts (3,280), and No. 6 in kills (1,193); Annika Smed is No. 6 in rally points scored (1,249) and attacks (3,063), and No. 9 in digs (1,177).
- Go Sioux -
