GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota volleyball team fell to St. Thomas in four sets Saturday to cap the opening weekend of Summit League play. The Fighting Hawks move to 6-7 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
Sally Marong recorded her second consecutive double-double, leading the Hawks with 11 kills and 13 digs. UND also finished with nine total blocks, with
Olivia Edlund and Marong leading the way with four each.
St. Thomas pulled away early in the opening set, building a 16-11 lead. Fueled by more than 600 Fighting Hawks fans at the Betty Engalsted Sioux Center, UND responded with a four-point run to cut the deficit to one at 16-15. A kill from
An den Hamer started the run, while two Tommie attack errors and a block from
Lilliana Montes and den Hamer helped the Hawks even the set.
The two teams continued to trade points before Marong's solo block gave North Dakota a 21-20 advantage. St. Thomas tied the set twice more before the Fighting Hawks closed the frame with a 3-0 run to take the opening set, 25-22. The first set featured nine ties and one lead change.
The second set remained closely contested, with the Hawks using a 6-1 run to take an 11-7 lead. Marong recorded two kills during the stretch, while Edlund added a kill. St. Thomas battled back and eventually took a 21-16 advantage. UND responded with a 3-0 run, including an ace from
Ellee McIntosh, but the Tommies held on to take the set, 25-21, and even the match at one set apiece.
The third frame was another back-and-forth battle, featuring 10 ties and six lead changes. Neither team was able to maintain a lead for long as the set featured several short runs. St. Thomas gained momentum late and pulled away to take the third set, 25-19, giving the Tommies a 2-1 match advantage.
St. Thomas controlled the fourth set, holding the UND offense to five kills and a negative hitting percentage. The Tommies took the final frame, 25-12, to claim the match, 3-1.
North Dakota will hit the road for its first Summit League road trip next week. The Fighting Hawks will face Kansas City on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. before traveling to Oral Roberts for a noon match on Saturday, Oct. 3.
POSTGAME NOTES
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: North Dakota 25, St. Thomas 22
Set 2: St. Thomas 25, North Dakota 21
Set 3: St. Thomas 25, North Dakota 19
Set 4: St. Thomas 25, North Dakota 12
For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, visit Fightinghawks.com or follow-on social media @UNDvolleyball.
--UND--
