FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota volleyball team began a busy week Tuesday in Fargo as they took on in-state rival North Dakota State Tuesday night, falling to the Bison 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-21). Paige Barber led the team with eight kills, while Elizabeth Norris led with nine digs and Teagan Timperley led with 14 assists.
The Fighting Hawks evened up the first set at four early on with a 3-0 run that included a kill from Paige Barber and a block from Marissa Stockman and Lauren Perugini. The early part of the first set was tight, but the Bison took control with a 9-0 run to open up a 19-9 lead; which UND could not fight back from.
In a reversal from the first set, NoDak jumped out to a 4-1 lead to open the second frame. NDSU came back to tie the set at seven, then UND took back the lead and next 15 points alternated as UND would go ahead and NDSU would tie it. UND got up 16-14 and looked to have a third straight point, but an NDSU challenge was successful and reversed the point to make it a 16-15 UND lead. NDSU scored five straight to lead 19-16, but UND knotted it up again behind back-to-back aces from Izzie McCormick. But UND was unable to take the lead back as the Fighting Hawks fell down 0-2 in the match.
Early errors from the Bison in set number three gave UND an early lead, but it would not last as NDSU took back the lead. The green and white would pull within one at 15-14 at the end of a 3-0 run that featured kills from McCallister Gayle and Perugini. But the Fighting Hawks would get no closer as the hosts finished the match in three sets.
The Fighting Hawks continue this week at home with matches against Denver on Thursday and Oral Roberts on Saturday.
Postgame Notes
· NDSU has now won the last three matchups in the series.
· Stockman assisted on four blocks to lead the team, while Gayle was second with three.
· McCormick had both aces of the night for UND.
· McCormick grabbed her second kill of the season and first since September 14 against Northern Iowa.
How it Happened
First set: NDSU 25, UND 15
Second set: NDSU 25, UND 22
Third set: NDSU 25, UND 21
