GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota volleyball took the match 3-1 against St. Thomas on Thursday evening from the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
 
It was a slow start for the Fighting Hawks as the Tommies took an early 6-3 lead. North Dakota continued to battle and tied it at 13 all before taking a 14-lead. UST was not letting go of the lead easily as they battled back to take a 20-18 lead. UND continued the attack as they went up 22-20 to force a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Tommies bounced back and took the set 25-22. UND was prepared for UST in the second set as they took the 8-5 lead early on. St. Thomas caught up to North Dakota at nine all before a back-and-forth battle followed. The Fighting Hawks pulled away to make it 19-16, but the Tommies tied it at 19 before taking the 21-19 lead. UND rallied and went on a six-point run to win the set 25-21.
 
The Fighting Hawks kept the momentum going in the third set as they went up 5-1 to force an early Tommies timeout. UST battled back to tie the game at 15 all before taking the 17-15 lead, but UND returned the favor as they tied it at 17 all. The teams traded points as they sought the lead. North Dakota came out victorious with the 26-24 third set win. Both teams traded points to start the fourth set. The Tommies took the first lead with 12-9. North Dakota had the 19-18 lead, but the teams tied at 20 before continuing to fight for the lead. UND came out victorious with the 25-23 win to make it 3-1.
 
North Dakota led in all statistical categories over St. Thomas. The Fighting Hawks had 72 points to the Tommies 58. UND had  58 kills, six aces, eight blocks, 54 assists and 90 digs compared to UST's 49 kills, two aces, seven blocks, 41 assists and 72 digs.

The Fighting Hawks continues in Grand Forks as they host the Leathernecks at the Betty Sioux Engelstad Center on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 12 p.m. (CT).

Postgame Notes

• North Dakota is now 9-11 on the season and 6-3 in the Summit League. 
• UND has completed the sweep of UST this season. They beat the Tommies 3-0 earlier and 3-1 on Thursday night.
• The Fighting Hawks were led in kills by Ashlyn Olson, Sierra Ward and Paige Barber. They each ended the night with 12.
• Ward had 14 points after ending the night with her 12 kills, a dig and four blocks.
• Olson had 12 points with her 12 kills.
• Barber had 12.5 points with her 12 kills and one block.
• True freshman, Maddie Lipetzky, had eight kills on the night.
• Elizabeth Norris had 24 assists, nine kills and one block to end the night with 9.5 points.
• Peyton Sewell had 24 assists to match Norris.

How it Happened

• Set 1: St. Thomas 25, North Dakota 22
• Set 2: North Dakota 25, St. Thomas 21
• Set 3: North Dakota 26, St. Thomas 24
• Set 4: North Dakota 25, St. Thomas 23