GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota volleyball team battled Kansas City in a five-set thriller on Halloween night, ultimately falling to the Roos, 3-2. The Fighting Hawks move to 8-14 overall and 2-9 in Summit League play.
Prior to the match, North Dakota honored its senior class of
Skylar Darr,
Olivia Edlund,
Katie Paez,
Lauren Perugini,
Kenya Prescott and
Andrea Zaric. The six student-athletes were recognized for their contributions to the program during their time at North Dakota.
The offensive trio of
Sally Marong,
An den Hamer and
Lilliana Montes led the UND attack, combining for 37 of the team's 60 kills. Marong paced the Hawks with 14 kills and 10 digs to record her fourth double-double of the season. Den Hamer followed with 13 kills, while Montes added 10.
Haley Patton stepped into the setter role for the second consecutive match, leading the team with a career-high 27 assists. She also recorded a match-high 13 digs to earn her second straight double-double.
Kansas City opened the match with a 6-1 run to take an early lead. North Dakota battled back, tying the set at nine on a kill by
Olivia Edlund. The Fighting Hawks began to pull away with a 6-1 run of their own to take an 18-14 advantage.
Kenya Prescott added an ace during the stretch, while Marong contributed two kills. North Dakota maintained its lead down the stretch, holding off a late Roos rally to claim the opening set, 25-22.
Kansas City controlled the next two frames, taking the second set, 25-19, before claiming the third, 25-14, to move ahead 2-1.
North Dakota regrouped in the fourth set, battling Kansas City throughout the opening half of the frame. With the score tied at 14, the Fighting Hawks put together a seven-point run to take a 20-14 lead. Edlund recorded three kills during the stretch and added a block assist alongside
Andrea Zaric.
The Roos responded with a run of their own to take a 22-21 advantage. UND answered once again, using a 4-1 spurt to force extra points. Marong delivered back-to-back points, recording a kill before closing out the set with an ace to give the Hawks a 26-24 victory and force a decisive fifth set.
Both teams battled in the final frame, but errors proved costly for the Fighting Hawks. Kansas City pulled away late to take the set, 15-11, and secure the 3-2 match victory.
The Fighting Hawks will close out the regular season on the road, beginning with a trip south to Fargo, N.D., to face rival North Dakota State on Saturday, Nov. 7. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
- This marked UND's first five-set match in Summit League play this season. The Hawks' last five-set contest came at Lamar on Sept. 18. North Dakota is now 2-2 in five-set matches this season.
- Kansas City leads the all-time series against North Dakota, 11-5.
- Olivia Edlund and Andrea Zaric each finished just shy of double-digit kills, recording nine apiece.
- Mackenzie Dufner served as a secondary setter for the Hawks, recording 18 assists.
- Katie Paez and Skylar Darr split libero duties for North Dakota, recording nine and six digs, respectively.
- At the net, Lilliana Montes led the Hawks with five blocks, including one solo block.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: North Dakota 25, Kansas City 22
Set 2: Kansas City 25, North Dakota 19
Set 3: Kansas City 25, North Dakota 14
Set 4: North Dakota 26, Kansas City 24
Set 5: Kansas City 15, North Dakota 11
For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, visit Fightinghawks.com or follow-on social media @UNDvolleyball.
--UND--
