MACOMB, Ill. — Emily Minnick recorded a season-high with 19 kills and had six blocks as North Dakota State University rallied for a second set win and went to defeat host Western Illinois 3-1  (24-26, 25-23, 25-20, ) in a Summit League volleyball match played Sunday, Oct. 2, before 111 spectators in Western Hall.
 
North Dakota State (3-1 Summit League, 5-12) is scheduled to host Fort Wayne (3-0 SL, 7-9) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, in the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
 
North Dakota State trailed 5-0, 14-6 and 18-8 before putting together an impressive rally for the 25-23 second set win. Minnick connected for five of her career and match-high 19 kills in the second set, and also combined with Monica Claxton on two important blocks during the comeback. Minnick finished with six blocks overall, Claxton had three.
 
Claxton came off the bench to record 14 of her 38 assists in the second set. The Bison improved offensively to outhit Western Illinois .189 to .073 and rode the momentum to take the next two sets and the match. Claxton also had eight digs and a pair of kills.
 
Western Illinois (1-4 SL, 4-16) scored five straight points rally from a 24-21 deficit for the first set win. The Leathernecks took advantage of three Bison errors and kills from Riley Schumacher and Shalyn Greenhaw to collect the win.
 
NDSU gained a 17-13 lead on Emily Miron's third kill of the set. Miron became the 23rd player in program history to reach 1,000 kills. Miron finished with 14 kills in the match and has 1,011 overall.
 
Hadley Steffen finished with 14 kills and 14 digs to finish with her fifth 'double-double' of the season. Mikaela Purnell came up with 18 digs to lead a group of four Bison with double-figure digs. Hannah Jessen and Emily Milligan both had 10 digs.