ST. PAUL, Minn. – North Dakota volleyball continued the conference season with a 3-0 victory over St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon from St. Paul.
 
North Dakota came out strong in the first set as they went up 4-0 before St. Thomas could score a point. The Tommies tried to catch up to the Fighting Hawks, and they were able to bring the deficit down to one (11-10) before UND pulled away again. North Dakota took the first set 25-20. The momentum carried into the second set as the Fighting Hawks too the 3-1 lead. The Tommies managed to take the lead back (4-3) before the Fighting Hawks secured it for the rest of the match. UND won the second set 25-19. The third set saw a slow start for UND as UST took an early 3-1 lead. The teams traded points until North Dakota scored five straight points to make it 14-9. The Fighting Hawks did not look back as they took the third set 25-14 for the 3-0 sweep over the Tommies.

The Fighting Hawks beat the Tommies statistically except for in service aces. North Dakota had 47 points, 38 kills, three aces, six blocks, 36 assists and 46 digs compared to St. Thomas who had 40 points, 33 kills, three aces, four blocks, 32 assists and 41 digs.

The Fighting Hawks continue Summit League play at home on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. against South Dakota State.

Postgame Notes

• North Dakota improves to 5-8 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.
• The 3-0 win against the Tommies ends a three-game losing streak against them. UND had not beat UST in the series before today as the Tommies hold the 3-1 lead.
• This is the first 2-0 start in conference play since the Fighting Hawks joined the Summit League. Their last 2-0 start in conference play was in 2017 when they were still in the Big Sky. That year they started 4-0 in conference play.
• Leading the Fighting Hawks in kills was Ashlyn Olson with 13. She ended the night with 14.5 points, three blocks and one dig.
• Sierra Ward added seven kills and a dig to end the afternoon with seven points.
• Paige Barber once again matched her career-high in kills with seven against the Tommies to end the afternoon with a .538 hitting percentage. She had one dig to end the match with seven points.
• Marissa Stockman recorded 7.5 points as she had five kills, three bocks and two digs.
• Elizabeth Norris led the team in assists against the Tommies with 21. She had eight digs, four kills and two blocks for a total of five points.
• Kortney Carney led the defensive efforts with 13 digs. She had two assists, two service aces and two points to end the day.
• Maddy Hornyak helped Carney on defense with 11 digs.
• Izzy McCormick contributed with five digs and two assists.
• Sophia Ortquist had two kills and two blocks to earn three points.
• Peyton Sewell had eight assists and a service ace to add a point for the Fighting Hawks.

How it Happened

• Set 1: North Dakota 25, St, Thomas 20
• Set 2: North Dakota 25, St, Thomas 19
• Set 3: North Dakota 25, St, Thomas 14