GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- UC Davis defeated host North Dakota 25-23, 25-22, 25-18 in the final match of the UND Classic Saturday evening at Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Senior Chelsea Moser and junior transfer Tamara Merseli were each named to the all-tournament team while Ole Miss claimed the team title.
Moser and Ashley Brueggeman each had nine kills Saturday evening to lead North Dakota. Sydney Griffin added 29 assists for the Fighting Hawks.
UND led 18-15 in the opening frame but a 6-1 Aggie run put UC Davis in top for good in that set for a 25-23 win.
It was a back-and-forth affair in the second set until UCD (2-1) used a 5-2 spurt to propel in front and never looked back, winning 25-22 and going into the intermission with a two sets to none lead.
UND faced a 2-0 hole in Saturday's opening match and rallied to force a fifth set and gain a match point before eventually falling. The comeback would fall short in this match with the Aggies by as many as 11 points. It was 24-14 and UND scored four straight points on te service of Denae Dominguez to force a timeout,l but UCD was able to finish the match and grab second place in the tournament with a 25-18 victory.
UND (1-2) heads to rival South Dakota Tuesday evening for a non-conference match.
2016 ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Team champs: Ole Miss
Kate Gibson- Ole Miss (MVP)
Nicole Purcell- Ole Miss
Lexi Thompson- Ole Miss
Kendall Walbrecht - UC Davis
Heather Reed - UC Davis
Chelsea Moser- North Dakota
Tamara Merseli- North Dakota
Sydney O'Shaughnessy- Omaha