FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota volleyball battled through four intense sets on Tuesday night inside Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse, but it was the rival Bison of North Dakota State that came out on top in the regular season finale in a match that saw the two sides play to extra in the opening and fourth frames.
 
UND held leads of 11-5, 13-8  and 17-10 in the opening set, but the Bison closed on an 18-9 run to take the first set 28-26. The Hawks played to set point on three different occasions down the stretch, but were unable to close out the frame.
 
North Dakota responded by building an 18-14 lead behind consecutive kills from junior Paige Barber. Moments later, the Hawks went with back-to-back terminations from sophomore Lauren Perugini to lead 22-18, before senior Jarolin de los Santos Lugo finished the set with a trio of put aways to even the match at one set apiece. The Hawks recorded 20 of their 57 total kills in set two.
 
The Bison jumped out to an 8-3 lead in set three, before the Hawks closed the deficit to just one at 14-13 as a 10-6 run was highlighted by a pair of kills from Barber, one from Elizabeth Norris, a combo denial from Barber and freshman Vanessa Washington and a service ace from Perugini. A 4-0 NDSU run was briefly halted on a termination by Barber, but the Bison added the next two points to lead 20-14. The Hawks rallied back as close as 22-21, but the host finished the frame with three straight kills.
 
In the fourth set, UND took a quick 7-3 lead that it then built to 13-6. The Hawks carried that advantage down to a 21-19 score before consecutive blocks by the Bison evened the frame at 21. North Dakota fought off NDSU match point at 24-23 and 25-24 as freshman Vanessa Imoh delivered kills each time. The Bison finished with an Ali Hinze kill and a combo block to close out the match.
 
The Hawks' season comes to an end at 9-18 overall and 2-14 in Summit League play.
 
Postgame Notes

• The opening set was the tenth played by the Hawks in Summit League play this season that went to extra with the final frame of the season serving as the 11^th
• UND's 172 total attacks were the third-most in a match for the Hawks this season
• The Hawks' 50 assists are the second-most in a four-set match this season
• UND finished with at least eight aces for the seventh time this season
• It marked the fifth match this season with 70 or more digs
• Barber led UND with 16 kills at .282
• Santos Lugo recorded a career-high 14 kills in her final collegiate match at an attack clip of .385
• Santos Lugo delivered five total blocks with the freshmen Imoh and Washington each following with three
• Perguini nearly recorded her third-straight double double as she finished with ten kills and eight digs
• Three Hawks finished with 15 or more kills including Izzie McCormick and Maddy Hornyak who each led with 18, while Norris produced 15 as part of a double double effort with 19 assists
• For Norris, it was her 36^th career double double
• Katy Riviere led UND with a career-high 23 assists and three service aces
• McCormick and Hornyak added two service aces each

 
How It Happened
 
Set 1: NDSU 28, UND 26
Set 2: UND 25, NDSU 21
Set 3: NDSU 25, UND 21
Set 4: NDSU 27, UND 25
 
For more information on North Dakota volleyball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDvolleyball.