BEAUMONT, Texas – The University of North Dakota volleyball team defeated Louisiana-Monroe in four sets Saturday morning to close out the Lamar Invitational with a 2-1 record. The Fighting Hawks finish the 2026 nonconference slate with a 6-5 record.
Lauren Perugini led the Fighting Hawks on both sides of the net, recording team highs in kills and digs. The junior finished with 12 kills and 15 digs for her third double-double of the season.
Ellee McIntosh also recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs.
Reagan McIntosh paced the UND offense with 40 assists.
The opening set remained close early before North Dakota pulled away with a four-point run to take a 10-5 lead. The Hawks added another 4-0 run midway through the set to extend their advantage to 16-10. Perugini recorded back-to-back kills to spark the run. UND maintained its lead the rest of the way, taking the set 25-19 to go up 1-0.
The Warhawks quickly built a 14-9 lead in the second set, but the Fighting Hawks battled back to tie the frame at 14-14.
An den Hamer recorded two kills during the run, while
Sally Marong added a service ace. ULM responded with a run of its own, building a 23-16 advantage. The Hawks could not overcome the deficit, falling 25-18 to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set featured several runs from both teams. North Dakota used an 8-1 run to take a 16-12 lead, with back-to-back service aces from
Reagan McIntosh helping fuel the surge. The Warhawks rallied to tie the set at 21-21, but the Fighting Hawks answered to take the frame, 25-23, and regain the match lead at 2-1.
The final set was another tight battle. North Dakota erased a five-point deficit with a run that gave the Hawks a 17-16 lead.
Ellee McIntosh recorded three consecutive kills during the surge. The teams continued to trade points down the stretch before
Lilliana Montes delivered the final kill to give UND a 25-23 set victory and a 3-1 match win.
North Dakota returns to The Betty on Thursday, Sept. 24, to open Summit League play against Omaha. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.
POSTMATCH NOTES
- UND improves to 2-0 all-time against Louisiana-Monroe.
- Four Hawks recorded double-digit kills, including Lilliana Montes (11) and An den Hamer (10).
- Montes continued her strong offensive play, hitting .625 with 11 kills on 16 attempts and just one attack error.
- The Fighting Hawks recorded seven service aces, including four from Reagan McIntosh.
- Mackenzie Dufner played in two sets and recorded one service ace.
- UND recorded six solo blocks against the Warhawks. Perugini and Ellee McIntosh each recorded two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: North Dakota 25, Louisiana-Monroe 19
Set 2: Louisiana-Monroe 25, North Dakota 18
Set 3: North Dakota 25, Louisiana-Monroe 23
Set 4: North Dakota 25, Louisiana-Monroe 23
For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, visit Fightinghawks.com or follow-on social media @UNDvolleyball.
--UND--
