KANSAS CITY, Mo. – North Dakota volleyball rallied from losses in sets one and two to dominate the third frame of play on Saturday afternoon at Kansas City, but the Hawks were unable to hold onto a set four advantage as the Roos prevented UND from forcing a fifth set winning 3-1 inside the Swinney Center. The loss drops the Hawks to 7-6 (0-2 Summit), while KC improves to 3-9 overall (1-0 Summit).
 
UND outhit Kansas City in the opening set and for the match (.265 / .211). The Hawks held leads of 17-12, 20-17 and 24-23 following a kill from freshman Vanessa Washington. However, UND would be unable to finish off the Roos in the opener as two KC kills sandwiched a service ace to give the host an opening set victory.
 
Washington, who finished with 11 kills, delivered another one late in set two that evened the frame at 19, but the Roos closed on a 6-3 run to grab a 2-0 match lead.
 
The third set was all UND. The Hawks hit .379 in the frame with 13 kills to just two attack errors in 29 attempts. Six different Hawks recorded kills in the set. North Dakota held the Roos to an attack clip of just .023.
 
Consecutive kills from junior Paige Barber near the middle of the fourth set gave UND its first lead of the frame at 11-10 after both sides traded points in the early going. Barber added another to keep the Hawks up one and terminations from Washington and rookie classmate Vanessa Imoh placed UND out front 15-14. A pair of KC service errors helped the Hawks build a 20-17 lead and Barber terminated again in the frame to put UND up 21-18. Sophomore Lauren Perugini, who matched her career high with a dozen kills, finished an attack giving UND a 23-20 lead, but the Roos closed on a 6-1 run to take their Summit League opener.
 
The Hawks return home to Grand Forks for their next three matches beginning first with Oral Roberts on Thursday, October 3. UND plays host to Denver on Saturday at noon. The mini homestand concludes on Thursday, October 10 with a 7 p.m. matchup against South Dakota. The action can be seen on the Summit League Network and live stats for the contests will be available at FightingHawks.com.
 
Postgame Notes

• In seven Summit League sets played this season, the Hawks have seen three go extra
• UND's effort offensively marked the first time this season the Hawks out-hit their opposition in a loss
• The Hawks' .265 attack clip is its highest against a Summit League foe since hitting .272 against St. Thomas on September 24, 2022
• Four Hawks hit north of .267 with 15 or more attempts
• Perugini hit .478 (12-1-23), Washington hit .381 (11-3-21) and junior Katy Riviere hit .304 (8-1-23)
• Senior Jarolin de los Santos Lugo led with four blocks; Washington and Riviere followed with three
• Graduate setter Elizabeth Norris led with 22 assists in a double-double effort with 11 digs
• Norris added two aces, two kills and a block
• Senior Maddy Hornyak led with a dozen digs
• Teagan Timperley followed Norris with 20 digs

 
How It Happened
 
Set 1: KC, 26-24
Set 2: KC, 25-22
Set 3: UND, 25-16
Set 4: KC, 26-24
 
 
For more information on North Dakota volleyball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDvolleyball.
 

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