MACON, Ga. – The North Dakota volleyball team wrapped up its non-conference slate with a 3-1 victory over West Georgia (20-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-18) on Saturday morning from Hawkins Arena. UND improves to 3-8, while West Georgia falls to 2-11.

The Hawks earned their second come-from-behind victory of the season, winning the final three sets after dropping set one.

North Dakota was led offensively by Paige Barber (15) and Lauren Perugini (12), as the duo combined for 27 of the teams 46 kills (.587 percent) in the match. Both players registered 10 or more kills in all three matches this weekend, while Barber has logged 15 or more kills in four consecutive matches.

Matthea Dalton filled up the stat sheet, capturing seven kills, four digs, two blocks and a career high four service aces. Overall, the Fighting Hawks earned a season best 13 service aces, good for the most in a match since Aug. 30, 2019 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Sadie White gave out 35 assists, and had a career best three service aces. Skylar Darr and Izzie McCormick each tallied two service aces.

Set one had six ties and five lead changes, with UND leading by as many as two. Leading 7-5, the Hawks surrendered an 11-4 run, giving the Wolves a 16-11 advantage. UND trailed by as many as nine in the frame, dropping set one, 25-20.

Set two was all North Dakota, as the Hawks went wire-to-wire and led by as many as 13. Dalton had three of the teams five service aces in the set, giving North Dakota a comfortable 25-14 win.

Set three was a little more competitive, with two ties, but UND never trailed. The Hawks jumped out to a 7-2 lead and held an advantage by at least three through the first 41 points of the match, giving them a 22-19 lead. The Wolves scored three consecutive points to tie it at 22-22, but the Hawks scored three of the next four points, concluded by a Barber kill, to win the set, 25-23.

North Dakota trailed by as many as four in the fourth frame, with the Wolves up 8-4. From there, UND ended the set on a 21-10 run, led by five kills from Barber, to take set four, 25-18.

The Hawks will begin conference play on Thursday against South Dakota at 7 p.m. from Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

Postgame Notes

• UND improves to 1-0 all-time against West Georgia and closes out the Mercer Invitational with a 2-1 record
• Barber has recorded 15 or more kills in four consecutive matches, totaling 49 kills in the Mercer Invitational across three matches and 13 sets
• Perugini captured 38 kills in the Mercer Invitational across 12 sets, totaling double digits in all three matches
• Dalton (4) and White (3) each tallied career highs in service aces
• The Hawks 13 service aces were a season best and the most in a match since Aug. 30, 2019 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• McCormick ended the Invitational with 60 digs
• White concluded the Invitational with 114 assists

How It Happened
Set 1: West Georgia 25-20
Set 2: UND 25-14
Set 3: UND 25-23
Set 4: UND 25-18

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