PORTLAND, Ore.-- Host Portland State defeated North Dakota 26-24, 25-23, 26-24 Thursday evening in Big Sky Conference play.

North Dakota (16-8, 4-3) was led by Chelsea Moser and Julia Kaczorowska, each of whom chipped-in 12 kills. Faith Dooley added nine kills and seven blocks while McKenzie Hart recorded 25 digs in the loss.

"When you are up in all three sets, 19-17, 20-17, and 23-19, and lose all three, that's tough," UND head coach Mark Pryor said. "Our focus has to be there throughout a set. It's a full-time thing, not a part-time thing.  

"One of the positives I take out of this match is that we are close to being a really good team, and a really good team this year. We just have to continue to sustain mental focus throughout an entire set and learn to finish better. The road doesn't get any easier for us, but I'm looking forward to seeing how we respond."

PSU (6-13, 2-5) rallied from down 8-2 in the final set and scored seven of the final eight points in that frame to earn the win.

The first two sets went by the same formula with the home team gaining an early advantage before a UND run would tie the score at 11 each time. Initially, it was a 7-3 jump start to the match to which UND responded with six straight points for its first lead at 12-11. The score would see nine more tie scores in that set including 24-24 with PSU getting a Pati Anae kill and a double block to wrap up the first frame, 26-24.

PSU led 11-6 in set two before another six-point run by UND had the visitors leading 12-11. As in the first, it would be a see-saw affair the rest of the way with six tie scores as the Vikings countered a 4-1 UND run with four straight points to put them back on top, 22-21. PSU would eventually go into the intermission with a 2-0 match lead after a 25-23 set-two win.

Out of the break, UND stormed out with eight of the first 10 points with Chelsea Moser killing five balls and blocking another through the first nine UND points. The UND advantage would grow to as large as seven points in that final set, forcing PSU to chip away.

PSU got within one at 20-19, but three straight points-- the final two coming on UND blocks-- staked the visitors to a 23-19 lead. Portland State then scored four straight before an attack error for a sideout. But, PSU finished off the comeback with the final three points to sneak out with the win, 26-24.

UND stays on the road and will face Northern Colorado Saturday. The match is set for an 8:00 p.m. Central start.