BROOKINGS, S.D. – North Dakota volleyball dropped a four-set match on Saturday night from inside First Bank & Trust Arena in Brookings as the Hawks, despite registering more kills than the host, were bested by one of the nation's top mid major teams in (RV) South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits, who entered the night as the nation's only unbeaten team as well as a vote getter in the latest AVCA Top 25, moved to 16-0 overall and 5-0 in Summit League play. UND drops to 8-9 with a 1-5 mark in league action.
 
The Hawks and Jackrabbits battled to a 12-12 tie in the opening frame before the host closed on a 13-5 run to take set one. In the second set, UND moved to within three points of the SDSU lead eight times following an early 3-3 score including a late 23-20 decision. The Jackrabbits used a kill and a block, one of 14 for the host, to hold off the Hawks.
 
UND used the late momentum in set two and continued to battle in set three running out to a 14-10 lead behind an impressive sequence that included kills from sophomore Lauren Perugini and freshman Vanessa Imoh which broke an 8-8 tie. The Jackrabbits responded with back-to-back points, but the Hawks used a 5-0 run with a termination by Imoh, an ace by Perugini and dig-kill from junior Izzie McCormick. Junior Paige Barber followed with a kill which prompted a SDSU timeout with UND up four. Following the timeout, Barber produced her ninth kill and moments later an ace by senior Jarolin Santos Lugo and a kill from Imoh grew the Hawks' advantage to its largest of the night at 18-13.
 
The Hawks used a pair of combo denials from redshirt freshman Olivia Edlund, who delivered a kill to get UND to 20, and Santos Lugo as well as the latter and Imoh which pushed NoDak to set point. Santos Lugo terminated to force the first fourth set inside the brand new First Bank & Trust Arena.
 
SDSU responded in a big way with a 10-4 run to open the fourth frame and then doubled up UND to finish the match on a 15-7 run.
 
The Hawks head to the Twin Cities for a match up with St. Thomas on Thursday, October 17. First serve from St. Paul is set for 7 p.m. It will be the only match for the Hawks next week, before UND returns to the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center for three-straight home matches. Thursday's action can be seen on the Summit League Network and live stats for the contest will be available at FightingHawks.com.
 
Postgame Notes

• The Hawks won a third set after dropping the first two for the third time this season with the other two instances coming against Summit League foes Oral Roberts and Kansas City
• The Hawks finished +1 in kills, but committed 20 more attack errors with SDSU providing 14 blocks to just three for UND
• Imoh recorded a career-high 10 kills as she hit north of .333 for the third time in five career matches
• Barber led UND in kills for the eighth time this season with 11
• Graduate Elizabeth Norris delivered her 35^th career double-double with 15 assists and 10 digs
• Santos Lugo recorded three aces to lead the Hawks and move into the top spot on the team with 22

How It Happened
 
Set 1: SDSU, 25-17
Set 2: SDSU, 25-20
Set 3: UND, 25-19
Set 4: SDSU, 25-11
  
For more information on North Dakota volleyball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDvolleyball.