NDSU, Fassbender End Seven-Match Losing Streak to IUPUI With 3-0 Victory in Home Finale

Sunday, November 8

Fargo, N.D.

1 p.m.

North Dakota State

17-11, 8-6SL

IUPUI

19-9, 10-4SL

Team	1	2	3	Final F
IUPUI	23	20	21	0
North Dakota State	25	25	25	3

Photo by: Richard Svaleson

NDSU, Fassbender End Seven-Match Losing Streak to IUPUI With 3-0 Victory in Home Finale

11/8/2015 3:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

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FARGO, N.D.--It proved to be a fitting home send-off for Jenni Fassbender on Senior Day as North Dakota State University ended a seven-match losing streak to IUPUI with a convincing 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-21) victory over the Jaguars in a Summit League match played Sunday, Nov. 8, before 696 spectators at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. The Bison finished with an 8-3 record at home, winning four straight at the BBF.

The win helped NDSU (17-11, 8-6 Summit League) stay within striking distance of fourth place Oral Roberts (14-12, 8-5 SL). The Bison close out the regular season traveling to South Dakota State (4-25, 3-10 SL) for a 2 p.m. match Friday, Nov. 13, and ORU for a 2 p.m. match Sunday, Nov. 15.

North Dakota State's last win against IUPUI (19-9, 10-4 SL) came on Oct. 14, 2011 in Indianapolis. That was the season before NDSU's lone senior, 5-foot-11 outside hitter Fassbender joined the program.

Fassbender finished with 10 kills and 10 digs to reach double-figure kills for the 24th time this season and 68th time in her career, but she had plenty of help in turning the tables on IUPUI.

NDSU had to hold off IUPUI in the first set after building a 24-19 lead. The Jaguars pulled to within 24-23 on Courtney Halter's service ace. Fassbender ended the set with a kill.

The Bison trailed 15-11 in the second set before going on an 8-1 run to take a 19-16 lead. The rally was highlighted by a pair of kills from Emily Miron and another from Jessica Jorgensen. Morgan Samec recorded one of her four service aces, while combination blocks were turned in by Miron and Jorgensen, and Emily Minnick and Hadley Steffen.

The third set turned into a tug-of-war. There were 11 ties and a pair of lead changes. A kill from IUPUI's Alexis Mapes tied things at 20-all before Miron came up with a kill to put NDSU in the lead for good. Samec served up an ace, Minnick recorded a kill and Jorgensen ended the set and the match with back-to-back kills.

North Dakota State came out firing from all angles and finished hitting .317 for the match. Jorgensen connected for a match-high 12 kills with only one error in 15 attacks to hit .733. Miron continued her work in the middle, finishing with 11 kills and hit .381. Steffen had seven well-timed kills, while Minnick had six kills and two blocks. Brianna Rasmusson (24) and Monica Claxton (21) combined for 45 assists.

For the second straight match, NDSU displayed balance in the back row. Mikaela Purnell, Rasmusson and Fassbender each had 10 digs, while Claxton and Steffen both added six.

Kori Waelbroeck led IUPUI with nine kills, while Kelly Wachtel had eight and Logan Walling added seven. Ashley Hacker and Mapes combined for 32 assists, while Halter finished with 10 digs.