GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota volleyball team opened its home slate Thursday night with the first match of the UND Classic against New Mexico. UND took the opening set but New Mexico took the next three sets, all of which were tightly contested to win the match 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 21-25, 19-25). Marissa Stockman led the Hawks with seven blocks, and with eight kills was tied with McCallister Gayle, Kaycee O'Dell and Lauren Perugini for second on the team behind Paige Barber's nine.

The first set got off to a tight start with UND owning a 5-4 lead before going on an 11-2 run that put them up 16-6. O'Dell started the run with a kill and Perugini followed up with two of her own. From there, UND cruised to a 25-17 win in the set; with O'Dell punctuating the set with a kill.

UND came out hot in the second set, taking the first four points of the set. The duo of Gayle and Stockman picked up two blocks in the stretch. UND held off the Lobos most of the set, but with UND holding an 17-11 lead, New Mexico chipped away and would tie the set at 20. A Barber kill gave UND the lead back temporarily but the last five points of the set gave New Mexico the set.

Momentum stayed with New Mexico to start the third set, as they jumped out to a 9-4 lead. But UND went on a 12-2 run as they took the lead 16-13. But the set would continue to seesaw back and forth as UNM answered with four straight, followed by five straight from UND to take a 21-17 lead. But the final eight points went to the Lobos as they went up 2-1 in the match.

Back-to-back kills from Barber gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead in the early stages of set number four, but momentum was on the side of UNM as they took the next five points and UND was unable to catch up the rest of the set.  

Postgame Notes

·         Teagan Timperley recorded her second career double-double with 20 assists and 14 digs, setting a new season high in both categories

·         Timperley also had three of the teams six aces—with Izzie McCormick tallying two and Perugini picking up one

·         Perugini led the team with 20 digs, her first match with 20 or more digs this season

·         Elizabeth Norris led the team with 21 assists, while also picking up six kills and seven digs

How it Happened

First set: UND 25, UNM 17

Second set: UNM 25, UND 21

Third set: UNM 25, UND 21

Fourth set: UNM 25, UND 19