GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota volleyball team swept Oral Roberts in three sets Thursday night inside the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The victory keeps the Fighting Hawks in playoff contention as they improve to 8-13 overall and 2-8 in Summit League play.
Haley Patton stepped up as UND's primary setter, recording 18 assists and 11 digs to earn her first collegiate double-double.
Kenya Prescott also turned in a career-best performance, setting a new personal high with 18 digs.
North Dakota opened the match with a 6-0 run, highlighted by two service aces from Patton. The Golden Eagles battled back to even the score at seven, but the Hawks regained the lead and never looked back. UND continued to build its advantage before closing out the set with four unanswered points.
Lauren Perugini recorded a kill during the run before
Lilliana Montes sealed the set with a kill assisted by
Mackenzie Dufner. The Hawks claimed the opening frame, 25-17, to take a 1-0 match lead.
Oral Roberts kept things close early in the second set, with the teams tying four times and exchanging the lead twice. Midway through the frame, North Dakota broke away with a 7-0 run to build a 19-14 advantage. Montes contributed two kills and a block assist alongside
Autumn Jordan, while Dufner added two service aces during the stretch. The Golden Eagles attempted to mount a comeback with a short run, but the Fighting Hawks maintained control to take the set, 25-22, and move ahead 2-0.
The final set featured runs from both sides, but the Hawks remained in control. UND opened the frame with three consecutive points before putting together another four-point run to take a 9-6 advantage. North Dakota continued to extend its lead, eventually stringing together five straight points to go ahead 20-12. Prescott recorded a service ace during the run, while
Sally Marong added two kills. The Hawks closed out the set, 25-18, to secure the three-set sweep.
North Dakota will now turn its attention to Saturday's matchup against Kansas City inside the Betty. The Fighting Hawks will celebrate their senior class while also hosting Halloween festivities. First serve is set for 11 a.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The Hawks improve to 14-4 all-time and 6-2 at home against the Golden Eagles. UND has also won its last 10 meetings against Oral Roberts.
- North Dakota recorded 12 service aces, tying its season high set against Chicago State on Aug. 30. Olivia Edlund and Mackenzie Dufner led the way with three apiece.
- The Fighting Hawks recorded 42 kills while holding Oral Roberts to just 19.
- Sally Marong led the UND attack with 13 kills, while An den Hamer finished just shy of double-digit kills with nine.
- Lilliana Montes recorded eight kills while hitting .429 and added three blocks.
- Mackenzie Dufner helped lead the UND offense with 16 assists.
- Olivia Edlund and An den Hamer led the Fighting Hawks at the net with four block assists apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: North Dakota 25, Oral Roberts 17
Set 2: North Dakota 25, Oral Roberts 22
Set 3: North Dakota 25, Oral Roberts 18
For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, visit Fightinghawks.com or follow-on social media @UNDvolleyball.
--UND--
