GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota volleyball team battled, falling to Kent State (25-16, 25-23, 25-20) on Friday evening from Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. UND drops to 0-7, while Kent State moves to 4-4.

The Green and White battled throughout the match, digging out a season best 64 digs, good for the most in a three-set match since Sept. 13, 2024.

The Hawks had three players record double-digit digs for the first time this season, with Izzie McCormick leading the way with a season high 18 digs. Katie Paez recorded a career best 12 digs, along with 10 from Skylar Darr.

Paige Barber tallied a game high nine kills and a career high two service aces, paired with seven kills from An den Hamer, tying her career high. Sadie White dished out 23 assists.

Set one was competitive through the first 14 points of the set, with the two teams even at 7-7. The Golden Flashes then used a 5-0 burst and an 11-1 extended run to go up 18-8. UND responded with three consecutive points, via a Kent State service error, a den Hamer kill and a Rugley service ace to make it 18-11. Kent State outscored the Hawks 7-5 the rest of the way to take the set by a 25-16 margin.

Set two saw 10 ties and four lead changes, with it being tight throughout the frame. Neither team led or trailed by more than two points through the first 36 points of the set, with UND holding leads of 13-12 and 16-15 in the set. Kent State went on a 9-2 run to take a 24-18 lead, but the Hawks showed fight. They were able to mount five consecutive points, headlined by a kill from den Hamer, an ace from White and three service errors from Kent State to cut the deficit to 24-23. Under pressure, the Golden Flashes were able to get the next point to win the set, 25-23.

North Dakota contained a lead for much of set three. After the score was tied at 1-1, UND controlled a lead all the way through the first 33 points of the match, including a 4-0 run when they led 13-12, to take its biggest lead at 17-12, forcing Kent State to burn a timeout. From that point, The Golden Flashes used a 13-3 run to end the set, 25-20.

North Dakota will host Idaho tomorrow at 11 a.m., with coverage Midco Sports.

Postgame Notes

• UND falls to 0-1 against Kent State
• McCormick had a season high 18 digs, leaving her just 29 digs shy of 1,000 for her career
• Paez poured in a career best 12 digs
• Darr manufactured her second match this season with 10 or more digs
• Barber totaled a career best two service aces
• UND's 64 digs were a season high, good for the most in a three-set match since Sept. 13, 2024, against Western Illinois
• Den Hamer tied a season high seven kills
• White recorded her fifth match with 20 or more assists

How It Happened
Set 1: Kent State 25-16
Set 2: Kent State 25-23
Set 3: Kent State 25-20

For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, visit Fightinghawks.com or follow-on social media @UNDvolleyball.
--UND--