GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota women's volleyball team fell in four sets to South Dakota on Thursday night. The Fighting Hawks drop to 7-10 overall and 1-5 in Summit League play.
Andrea Zaric led the Hawks offensively with a season-high 15 kills while hitting .231.
Reagan McIntosh and
Ela Vlaisavljevic split setter duties, recording 18 and 15 assists, respectively.
Haley Patton paced the defense with 10 digs.
South Dakota took control early in the opening set, holding North Dakota to 12 kills. The Coyotes pulled away late to claim the first frame, 25-14, and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Coyotes opened the second set with a 10-5 advantage before the Fighting Hawks responded with a seven-point run. The rally began with a block from Vlaisavljevic and
Olivia Edlund. Edlund followed with two service aces, while Zaric added two kills. North Dakota took a 12-10 lead and held on despite three more ties. The Hawks evened the match with a 25-23 victory, recording 14 kills with just three errors to hit a match-high .367.
South Dakota regained the momentum in the third set, holding North Dakota to seven kills and a negative hitting percentage. The Coyotes claimed the frame, 25-13, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
North Dakota showed early fight in the fourth set, building an 11-9 advantage. However, South Dakota answered with an extended run to take a five-point lead. The Fighting Hawks attempted to rally and force a deciding set, but the deficit proved too much to overcome. The Coyotes secured the set, 25-19, and the match, 3-1.
The Fighting Hawks return to the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center on Saturday to host South Dakota State. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
- North Dakota continues to lead the all-time series against South Dakota, 53-41.
- Bilge Balla and Katie Paez shared the starting libero position for the Hawks. Balla recorded a career-high nine digs.
- UND tallied 61 digs against the Coyotes. Sally Marong and Skylar Darr also recorded nine digs apiece.
- Marong added 13 kills, narrowly missing her third double-double of the season.
- The Hawks recorded six service aces, with Edlund accounting for three.
- North Dakota finished with seven blocks. Ellee McIntosh finished with a solo block and block assist.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: South Dakota 25, North Dakota 14
Set 2: North Dakota 25, South Dakota 23
Set 3: South Dakota 25, North Dakota 13
Set 4: South Dakota 25, North Dakota 19
For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, visit Fightinghawks.com or follow-on social media @UNDvolleyball.
--UND--
