GRAND FORKS, N.D. – With the Hawks leading 28-27 in set three, Skylar Darr delivered her third service ace of the match to lead UND past Idaho (25-19, 25-23, 29-27) in three sets on Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Hawks improve to 1-7, while Idaho drops to 2-7.

The match featured 24 ties and 12 lead changes overall, as the Fighting Hawks earned their first sweep and victory of the season.

North Dakota was led by a balanced attack offensively and defensively, with senior Paige Barber recording a game high 15 kills, good for the highest amount of her career in a three-set match.
An den Hamer put away a career high 10 kills on the afternoon, along with freshmen Matthea Dalton (8) and Kimanni Rugley (6) combining for 14.

Izzie McCormick followed up last night's 18 dig performance, with a new season high of 20 digs today, good for her 11th career match of 20 or more digs.

Sadie White logged her first career double-double, totaling 30 assists and a career best 12 digs on the afternoon. Darr had a personal best three service aces in the win, giving her four matches this season with two or more aces.

Set one had six ties and six lead changes, with UND leading by as many as six points. The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 and 7-4 lead in the set. Following an Idaho answer and an 11-11 tie, North Dakota scored four consecutive points off kills from Marianna Rivera, den Hamer and Barber, along with a service error to go up 15-11. The Hawks were able to keep it going, winning the set on a Rugley service ace, 25-19.

Set two was a battle, as UND held a 15-13 lead at the media timeout. Idaho was able to answer, using a 9-4 run to take a 22-19 lead in the frame. Following a timeout, North Dakota answered with three consecutive points, all off kills from Rivera, Barber and Dalton to tie it at 22-22. The two teams then exchanged points, evening the match at 23-23, before the Hawks ended the set with back-to-back points, concluded by a service ace from McCormick to win 25-23.

Set three was hectic with 15 total ties in the frame. North Dakota fell behind early 10-6, before scoring four straight points, with two from den Hamer to tie the match. The squads were exchanging points, tying the match at 15-15, before UND used a 6-2 burst to create some separation at 21-17. The Hawks then surrendered four consecutive points to equal the score at 21-21, before scoring three of their own to go up 24-21.

Idaho responded with four unanswered points, suddenly taking a 25-24 advantage in the set. North Dakota scored the next point via a service error from the Vandals, then the teams exchanged points to equal the score at 27-27. An attack error from Idaho gave UND a 28-27 lead, before Darr called game with her third service ace of the match, giving the Green and White a 29-27 set three victory.

North Dakota will be back in action on Friday against UT Martin at 9 a.m. in the Mercer Invitational in Macon, Ga.

Postgame Notes

• UND improves to 10-2 all-time against Idaho
• The Hawks earn their 13th sweep under head coach Jesse Tupac
• Barber had a game high 15 kills, good for her eighth career match with 15 or more kills
• McCormick had a season and game high 20 digs, good for her 11th career match with 20 or more digs
• Den Hamer mounted a career high 10 kills in the match
• Darr logged a career high three service aces, now with 12 on the season (a career best)
• White logged her first career double-double, having a career best 12 digs and her second career 30 or more assists match
• UND concluded all three sets with a service ace (Rugley in set one, McCormick in set two and Darr in set three)
• North Dakota's .205 hitting percentage was a season best
• The Hawks 11 service aces were the most in a match since Sept. 9, 2023
• The match had 24 ties and 12 lead changes

How It Happened
Set 1: UND 25-19
Set 2: UND 25-23
Set 3: UND 29-27

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