GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Sophomore Lauren Perugini registered a double-double with a career-high 18 kills and 13 digs, junior defensive specialist Izzie McCormick recorded a new career-best with 26 digs and senior middle blocker Jarolin de los Santos Lugo notched a career-high nine block assists, but North Dakota was edged in a five-set affair against South Dakota on Thursday night inside the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The loss, UND's third fifth-set defeat of the season and third-straight game with five-set action, moves the Hawks to 8-8 overall and 1-4 in Summit League play. The Coyotes improved to 11-5 with a 3-2 mark in conference play.
The Hawks were locked in early with Perugini leading the way offensively with four kills at .375 in addition to four digs and two blocks in set one. UND's defense played a key role in grabbing the opening frame with McCormick registering nine digs in the set in addition to the unit totaling five blocks. USD pushed the Hawks in the first set before Perugini and Santos Lugo combined on a denial, the former delivered consecutive terminations and freshman Vanessa Imoh recorded a kill as part of a 4-0 run to swing the momentum to the host.
USD used a .222 attack clip and multiple 3-0 runs to even the match at a set apiece after the Hawks struggled to find their footing in the second frame hitting -.111.
UND rebounded in set three delivering a match-high 15 kills and holding the Coyotes to a .067 attack effort. A third of Perugini's damage occurred in that third frame as she recorded six kills with three digs, while McCormick added eight more digs and Santos Lugo registered two more combo blocks.
The Hawks led 16-14 in the fourth set but were unable to hold the advantage as USD forced the host into 11 attack errors. The final frame was all USD early on as the Coyotes jumped out to a 10-2 lead, before a pair of kills from Perugini and an ace by McCormick cut the deficit in half. Down 14-6, the Hawks engineered a 5-0 run that was cut short as South Dakota held on for the league win.
The Hawks hit the road for Brookings as unbeaten (RV) South Dakota State awaits on Saturday from inside First Bank & Trust Arena. First serve for the league affair is set for 7 p.m. The action can be seen on the Summit League Network and live stats for the contest will be available at FightingHawks.com.
Postgame Notes
- UND set a season high in total attacks with 188, behind a career-high 44 from Perugini, and a season high in block assists with 30
- The squad's 15 total blocks match its season-high effort against Chicago State in mid-September
- South Dakota's 89 digs are the most by a UND opponent this season as are the team's 28 block assists and 16.0 total blocks
- The match combined for 23 tied scores and ten lead changes
- UND held its eighth opponent under a .175 attack this season as USD hit .141; its fourth-lowest effort this season
- Perugini's double-double is her third this season and fifth of her career
- McCormick crossed over the 20 digs mark for the ninth time in her career
- Santos Lugo recorded her 11th match this season with four or more block assists and her fourth with six or more
- Junior Paige Barber recorded 11 kills and freshman Vanessa Washington added eight
- McCormick and Elizabeth Norris each produced two aces as the Hawks lost for just the second time this season when recording at least five point-scoring serves
- Norris recorded 22 assists to continue her hunt for 2K which now has her at 159 away from the milestone
- Senior Maddy Hornyak delivered 15 digs and moved 129 away from 1,000 for her career
How It Happened
Set 1: UND, 25-21
Set 2: USD, 25-15
Set 3: UND, 25-21
Set 4: USD, 25-20
Set 5: USD, 15-10
For more information on North Dakota volleyball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDvolleyball.
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