FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State led twice and forced seven ties in the second game, but the second-ranked Washington Huskies survived the surge and went on to a 30-14, 30-24, 30-11 sweep of the Bison in college women's volleyball Friday, Sept. 9, at the Bison Sports Arena.

A rowdy Bison crowd of 1,547 was on hand to see the featured fourth match of the Doublewood Inn Classic against Washington.  It was the second largest home volleyball crowd in NDSU history behind the 2,259 against crosstown rival Minnesota State-Moorhead on Nov. 5, 1986.

Washington (5-0) was an NCAA national semifinalist a year ago, and the Huskies showed why by jumping out to a 23-9 lead and breezing through the first set.

North Dakota State (0-8) was noticeably stronger in the second set.  Outside hitters Kelly Lopez and Kim Hebl each connected for five kills and committed only one error in 17 combined attacks.

The Bison also got three kills in three tries from Lindsay Shockman-Rogers, while Sheila Parrish chipped in three important digs.

North Dakota State was down 9-7 in the second frame before a Christy Stuewe kill and a block by Stuewe and Lopez gave the Bison their first tie.

The set was tied a fourth time at 12 before a Hebl kill put the Bison ahead for the first time.  Another Hebl kill put the Bison up 14-13 moments later.

Hebl struck again to tie the match at 15, but the Bison would trail the rest of the way, staying within three points up to 26-23.

Washington jumped out to a 20-9 lead in the third game and never looked back.

Hebl led the Bison with eight kills in the match, Lopez finished with seven kills, and Rogers totaled six.  NDSU put up only two team blocks against the taller Huskies.

Washington finished with eight blocks and was led defensively by the 11 digs by Candace Lee and three blocks apiece by Darla Myhre and Sanja Tomasevic.

Christal Morrison had a match-high 13 kills and hit .565 in the match with no errors in 23 attacks.  She also had four of Washington's nine service aces.

Tomasevic chipped in 11 kills and Courtney Thompson directed the Husky offense with 49 assists.

Washington is scheduled to continue tournament play at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay and at 5 p.m. Saturday vs. Sam Houston State.

North Dakota State will play South Dakota State at 3 p.m. Saturday and Wisconsin-Green Bay at 7 p.m.