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FARGO, N.D.--Emily Miron connected for 16 kills and hit .483 as North Dakota State University hit a season-high .342 overall to defeat Western Illinois 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-15) in a Summit League volleyball match played Friday, Oct. 28, before 741 spectators in the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. The Bison swept the season series from the Leathernecks.

NDSU (6-4 Summit League, 8-16) is scheduled to host Omaha (2-9 SL, 5-20) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. It is the annual Pink Out match for the Bison. The Mavericks lost 3-0 at South Dakota on Friday night.

North Dakota State hit over .300 for only the fourth time this season and the second time in three matches led by Miron's 16 kills. Jessica Jorgensen had nine kills and hit .500, and Emily Minnick (6 kills) and Brianna Rasmusson (5 kills) both hit .385. Rasmusson directed the offense with 37 assists.

Following a methodical first set win, Western Illinois (1-10 SL, 4-23) battled back from an 11-8 deficit to take a 12-11 lead in the second set. However, the Bison won a long rally that featured alert defensive plays on both sides of the net including Mikaela Purnell, Emily Milligan, Morgan Morgan and Rasmusson for NDSU.

Rasmusson ended that rally with a kill and started an eight-point run that put the Bison ahead 19-12. Miron had four of her five second-set kills during that run. NDSU hit .531 in the third set to break free from a 12-all deadlock.

Defense in the back row and at the net was a key. Purnell came up with a match-high 28 kills, flirting with Kari Fagnan's three-set 32 dig record. Purnell has reached double-figure digs in 13 of 14 matches played this season. Milligan finished with 13 kills and Morgan added 11 digs. NDSU held a 7-3 advantage in team blocks led by Miron's four blocks including three solos and three from Emily Minnick.

Melanie Patenaude led Western Illinois with eight kills, while Lexi Kolschefski had seven kills and three blocks. Makenzie Blouse finished with 15 assists and Kaili Simmons had 19 digs.