NDSU Volleyball Comes Back to Defeat Summit League Leader Denver 3-2

Sunday, October 18

Fargo, N.D.

1 p.m.

North Dakota State

13-9, 4-4SL

Denver

19-5, 7-2SL

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Denver	26	22	25	23	12	2
North Dakota State	24	25	19	25	15	3

Photo by: Richard Svaleson

NDSU Volleyball Comes Back to Defeat Summit League Leader Denver 3-2

10/18/2015 4:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score.pdf
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FARGO, N.D.--Emily Minnick connected for a match-high 19 kills and hit .441, and Mikaela Purnell came up with a career-high 25 digs as North Dakota State University came back to defeat league-leading University of Denver 3-2 (24-26, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12) in a Summit League volleyball match played Sunday, Oct. 18, before 750 spectators at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. The Bison improved to 4-2 in five-set matches.

NDSU (13-9, 4-4 Summit League) is scheduled to host South Dakota State University (3-20, 2-5 SL) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

The fifth set proved to be a microcosm of the match as Denver (19-5, 7-2 SL) and North Dakota State each built leads, only to see the other team rally back. The fifth set was tied on six occasions and the lead changed hands four times. Overall, the score was tied 49 times and the lead changed hands on 27 occasions. Denver lost for the first time this season when winning the first set.

Becca Latham's kill put the Pioneers ahead 8-6 in the fifth set before the team switched sides, but the Bison reeled off three straight points to take a 9-8 lead. Minnick had kill and solo block to highlight the rally. However, Denver tied things at 9-all on a Nola Basey kill.

It was the last time the score was tied, though, as NDSU worked to keep a step ahead of the Pioneers. Kills from Jenni Fassbender and Minnick followed to put the Bison ahead 11-9.

North Dakota State overcame a service error with a McKenzie Burke kill. A pair of kills Kayla Principato kept Denver within striking distance, but the Bison gained the upperhand at 14-12 on an attack error. Brianna Rasmusson ended the match with a service ace, her fourth of the match, that caught the top of the net and snuck over for the deciding point in the match and the set.

Minnick led a group of three NDSU hitters with double-figure kills. Emily Miron had 17 kills and hit .433, while Fassbender finished with 16 kills. Ramusson contributed 42 assists, while Monica Claxton had 18 as the Bison hit. 242. Minnick led NDSU with five blocks including four solos. Fassbender reached double-figure kills for the 19th time this season and 63rd time in her career.

Defense came to the forefront led by Purnell, who led the way with 25 digs. She reached 20-plus digs for the fourth time over the past five matches and the sixth time this season. Purnell has recorded double-figure digs in 17 matches this season and 26 times in her career. Morgan Samec and Emily Milligan each had 10 kills with Samec recording her first collegiate double-figure effort.

Sarah Schmid had 18 kills and hit .533 to lead Denver's fast-paced attack. The Pioneers hit .300 in the match as Principato connected for 15 kills, and Moni Currujedo and Ruth Okoye both added 11. Okoye recorded eight blocks for Denver, the nation's top blocking team that finished with 11 team blocks. Monique Domme had 40 assists, while Cassidy Rooke came up with a match-high 27 digs. Currujedo had 15 digs, while Domme added 11.