University of North Dakota Athletics

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota women's volleyball team fell in three sets to North Dakota State inside the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center on Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Hawks move to 7-9 overall and 1-4 in Summit League play.
 
Olivia Edlund led the UND offense with a career-high nine kills. Reagan McIntosh paced the attack with 20 assists.
 
Defensively, Haley Patton, Sally Marong and McIntosh each recorded seven digs to lead the Fighting Hawks. An den Hamer anchored the defense at the net with seven blocks, including both of UND's solo blocks.
 
The opening set favored the Bison, who jumped out to a 5-1 lead. The Hawks responded to tie the frame at five, capitalizing on three NDSU attack errors and a kill by Marong. After UND evened the score at 16, the Bison pulled ahead again, but the Fighting Hawks continued to battle.
 
A kill by Lilliana Montes and a solo block by An den Hamer brought UND within two at 23-21. NDSU reached set point, but another kill by An den Hamer kept the Hawks alive. The Bison closed out the frame with a kill to take the opening set, 25-22.
 
North Dakota came out with renewed energy in the second set, opening with a 6-1 run and forcing an NDSU timeout. The Bison responded by battling back to even the score at six. The teams traded points throughout a tightly contested frame that featured 12 ties and seven lead changes. NDSU eventually pulled away late to claim the set, 25-21.
 
The Fighting Hawks were unable to mount a comeback in the third set, falling 25-14 as the Bison completed the sweep.
 
UND will remain at home next weekend as South Dakota and South Dakota State visit Grand Forks. The Fighting Hawks will open the weekend against South Dakota on Thursday, Oct. 15, for their annual Pink Game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• UND now trails NDSU 14-86 in the all-time series.
• Lilliana Montes continued to be an efficient presence on offense, recording seven kills while hitting .467.
• Skylar Darr finished with six digs and one service ace.
• Sally Marong contributed five kills to UND's 31-kill effort.
• The Fighting Hawks recorded a season-low two service errors.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: North Dakota State 25, North Dakota 22
Set 2: North Dakota State 25, North Dakota 21
Set 3: North Dakota State 25, North Dakota 14
 
For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, visit Fightinghawks.com or follow-on social media @UNDvolleyball.