RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The University of North Dakota volleyball team capped its time at The Joust with a five-set victory over Sacred Heart on Friday, marking the first meeting between the two programs. The Fighting Hawks move back to .500 with a 4-4 record.
It was a block party at Van Dyne Gym, with UND recording 19 total blocks. The Fighting Hawks nearly did this back in the 2022 season, recording 18 at Oral Roberts.
Lilliana Montes led the way with five solo blocks and nine block assists, both season highs.
Ellee McIntosh,
An den Hamer and
Lauren Perugini each recorded a double-double against the Pioneers. McIntosh finished with 13 kills and 13 digs, while Perugini and
An den Hamer each recorded 10 kills and 10 digs. It marked the second double-double of the season for both Perugini and McIntosh, with Perugini's coming early in the day against Idaho, and the first collegiate double-double for den Hamer. Libero
Haley Patton led the Fighting Hawks defensively with 23 digs, a new career high.
The two squads traded points early in the opening set, but UND began to pull away late with a 5-1 run. Building a 19-13 lead, the Fighting Hawks took control of the set.
Tessa Jacobson went 2-for-2 during the frame, helping North Dakota hit .344. The Hawks closed the set on a 3-0 run, including an ace from
Olivia Edlund, to take the opening frame, 25-17.
The second set featured another back-and-forth battle until a late Sacred Heart run propelled the Pioneers to even the match at one set apiece. UND struggled offensively in the second frame, recording just seven kills as Sacred Heart took the set, 25-21.
Another close battle followed in the third set, but the Fighting Hawks' defense held the Pioneers to a negative hitting percentage. Capitalizing on Sacred Heart errors, UND built a 17-11 lead, capped by an ace from
An den Hamer. The Pioneers staged a comeback to tie the set at 23-23, but
Lauren Perugini came through with a kill for set point. UND then capitalized on another Sacred Heart error to take the third set, 25-23, and a 2-1 match lead.
The Pioneers overpowered the Fighting Hawks in the fourth set, allowing just four UND kills. Sacred Heart eventually took the frame, 25-12, to force a deciding fifth set.
The two teams battled for the lead early in the deciding set, but the Fighting Hawks closed the match on a 9-2 run. UND's defense held strong, allowing just three Pioneer kills while recording three blocks in the frame. The Fighting Hawks closed out the match with a 15-9 victory in the fifth set.
POSTGAME NOTES
- This was UND's second five-set victory at The Joust. The Hawks defeated host California Baptist in five sets on Thursday night.
- UND now leads the all-time series against Sacred Heart, 1-0.
- Ellee McIntosh paced the UND offense with 13 kills, while Lauren Perugini and An den Hamer each recorded 10.
- Reagan McIntosh dished out 33 assists during the five-set thriller and added nine digs.
- Olivia Edlund recorded four of UND's nine aces, while Reagan McIntosh added two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: North Dakota 25, Sacred Heart 17
Set 2: Sacred Heart 25, North Dakota 21
Set 3: North Dakota 25, Sacred Heart 23
Set 4: Sacred Heart 25, North Dakota 12
Set 5: North Dakota 15, Sacred Heart 9
For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, visit Fightinghawks.com or follow-on social media @UNDvolleyball.
--UND--
