BROOKINGS, S.D. — North Dakota State University dropped the first two sets and then caught fire to rally past South Dakota State 3-2 (23-25, 21-25, 25-14, 25-13, 15-9) in a Summit League volleyball match played Tuesday, Oct. 11, before 325 spectators in Frost Arena. The Bison won in five sets for the first time in four tries this season.
 
NDSU (3-2 SL, 5-13) is scheduled to play at Denver (4-2 SL, 12-6) at 8 p.m. Central on Friday, Oct. 14. Denver lost 3-2 at Oral Roberts on Tuesday night.
 
Hadley Steffen and Emily Miron were two of the fire-starters for North Dakota State, which defeated South Dakota State in five sets for the third straight season in Brookings.
 
Steffen, a 5-foot-10 senior from Grand Forks, exploded for eight of her career-high 20 kills in the pivotal third set.  Steffen reached double-figure kills for the 13th time this season. The Bison hit .419 in that third set and rode the momentum into the fourth to hit .406.
 
Miron, a 6-2 senior from Wadena, Minn., took over in the middle and dominated in the fifth and deciding set. Miron had five kills and two of her five blocks to set the tone. She finished with 18 kills and two errors in 29 attacks to hit .552 overall.
 
Defensively, North Dakota State stepped up in the final three sets. Emily Minnick and Brianna Rasmusson each had seven blocks, combining with Miron's five and Jessica Jorgensen's three for 12 team blocks.
 
In the back row, Mikaela Purnell came up with 30 digs, while Emily Milligan recorded 22 digs.
 
North Dakota State outhit SDSU .242 to .079 for the match. Rasmusson finished with 48 assists and nine digs. Ali Moody had a career-high three service aces including the final point of the match.
 
Ashley Beaner led South Dakota State with 12 kills, while Nazya Thies added 10. Mattison Munger had 40 assists and Ellie Benson came up with 27 digs.