Box Score

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The North Dakota volleyball team opened their season Friday morning at the Bobcat Blackridge Invite against Kennesaw State (Ga.), falling to the Owls 3-0 (35-33, 25-16, 25-18). In her first match as a Fighting Hawk, Kaycee O'Dell led the team with 11 kills.

The first set was a back-and-forth affair, with KSU jumping out to a 3-1 lead before three straight points from UND gave the Hawks their first lead at 4-3. Back-to-back aces from Maddy Hornyak later in the set gave the Hawks their biggest lead at 15-11 heading into the media timeout. Marissa Stockman came out of the timeout with a solo block to make it 16-11, but from there KSU chipped away and eventually tied the set at 22. UND would have the first set point at 24-23, but KSU fought it off to tie the set at 24. Both teams would have chances to take the set, but it eventually would go to the Hawks at 35-33.

KSU took an early 4-1 lead in set two, and UND would come within two points on multiple occasions but could not get any closer at the Owls took the set 25-16.

UND came out of the gates strong in set number three as Paige Barber picked up a kill and later assisted on a block with Stockman to start up 3-1. But KSU would take back the upper hand, before a kill from Elizabeth Norris tied the set at seven. From there, KSU went on a 7-0 run, which was ended with two straight kills from Lauren Perugini. But the Owls were able to hold UND at bay the rest of the set and take the match 3-0.

 

How it happened:

Set one: KSU 35, UND 33

Set two: KSU 25, UND 16

Set three: KSU 25, UND 18

 

Postgame notes:

·        Norris led the team with 18 assists and seven digs, also tied Barber for second on the team with seven kills

·        Ashlyn Olson had two block assists with five kills

·        Teagan Timperley had 11 assists in her first career match

·        Stockman led the team with three blocks, also picked up five kills

·        Hornyak led the team with two aces, while Norris had one