TULSA, Okla. – The University of North Dakota women's volleyball team swept Oral Roberts on Saturday for its first Summit League win of the season. The Fighting Hawks have now won nine straight matches against the Golden Eagles and improve to 7-8 overall and 1-3 in Summit League play.
Andrea Zaric led the UND offense with 11 kills, while
An den Hamer also finished in double figures with 10 kills.
Reagan McIntosh continued to pace the Fighting Hawks offense with 32 assists.
Defensively,
Haley Patton led UND with 11 digs, while
Sally Marong finished with 10.
Oral Roberts controlled the early stages of the first set, building an 8-4 lead. North Dakota battled back with a three-point run to tie the set at 12, capped by an ace from Patton. The Fighting Hawks followed with a 4-0 run coming out of the media timeout, highlighted by back-to-back aces from
Olivia Edlund.
The Hawks closed the frame on a 7-1 run to take a 1-0 lead in the match. McIntosh added two aces of her own, giving UND five aces in the opening set. The Fighting Hawks hit a match-best .409 with 12 kills and just three errors.
The second set again went in favor of the Fighting Hawks. UND opened the frame with an impressive nine-point run. Zaric recorded four kills during the run, while Marong added an ace. North Dakota continued to build its lead and closed the set on a 9-1 run to win the frame, 25-12. The final two points came on blocks, with Edlund recording a block assist on each.
Oral Roberts claimed the first point of the final frame, but the Hawks responded with six straight points to force an ORU timeout.
Skylar Darr added an ace during the run, while
Lilliana Montes recorded a kill and a solo block to help UND establish an early advantage.
The Golden Eagles attempted to battle back, but North Dakota's early lead held the rest of the way. The Hawks won the set, 25-20, to complete the sweep.
The Fighting Hawks return to the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center next Saturday to host rival North Dakota State. The anticipated matchup against the Bison is set for 11 a.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
- UND continues to lead the all-time series, 13-4.
- The Fighting Hawks recorded double-digit aces for the third time this season. UND previously recorded 11 against Sam Houston and 12 against Chicago State.
- Bilge Balla made her second consecutive appearance for the Hawks and recorded a career-high seven digs.
- Montes continued her consistent offensive play, hitting .471 with nine kills.
- Edlund led the Fighting Hawks with three blocks, while An den Hamer added two.
- The Hawks remained strong in serve receive, allowing just two aces from Oral Roberts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: North Dakota 25, Oral Roberts 17
Set 2: North Dakota 25, Oral Roberts 12
Set 3: North Dakota 25, Oral Roberts 20
For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, visit Fightinghawks.com or follow-on social media @UNDvolleyball.
--UND--
