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FARGO, N.D.-- North Dakota State rebounded from a first set loss and battled through 34 ties over final two to upset the University of South Dakota 3-1 (19-25, 25-15, 25-22, 29-27) in a Summit League volleyball match played Tuesday, Nov. 1, before 428 spectators in the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. The Bison snapped a three-match losing streak to South Dakota, which entered the match in first place in the league standings.
NDSU (8-4 SL, 10-16) is scheduled to play at Fort Wayne (8-5 SL, 12-15) at 6 p.m. Central Time Friday, Nov. 4, and at IUPUI (7-5 SL, 11-16) at 5 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 5. Fort Wayne defeated IUPUI 3-0 on Tuesday night.
The Bison hit .385 in the second set to not only tie the match 1-1, but also set the tone the rest of the way at the net.
Emily Minnick,
Emily Miron and
Hadley Steffen all came up with alert plays, along with
Erika Gelzinyte and
Alex Erickson to provide
Brianna Rasmusson and
Monica Claxton plenty of options.
The third set was nip-and-tuck. The score was tied 16 times. South Dakota (10-2 SL, 21-5) led 19-17 and 21-20 before Minnick's kill tied third set at 21-all. Miron scored NDSU's next four points on a variety of shots to secure the win and put the Bison up 2-1 in the match.
The fourth set followed the same script. There were 18 ties and the lead changed hands on seven occasions. South Dakota led 26-25 and 27-26. Minnick, Steffen and Miron finished the fourth with kills to complete the win.
Minnick connected for 17 kills, while Miron and Steffen each had 14, and Gelzinyte added seven as the Bison outhit USD .211 to .181. Minnick claimed a match-high five blocks as the NDSU held a 9-6 advantage in team blocks. The Bison were held to one team block in the 3-0 loss to the Coyotes on Sept. 30.
Mikaela Purnell came up with 30 digs to lead a group of five players with double-figure digs. Purnell reached 30-plus digs for the fourth time this season and fifth time in her career. Rasmusson had 39 assists and 11 digs to complete her ninth double-double of the season, while Steffen added 10 digs to notch her ninth.
Ali Moody contributed a pair of service aces.
Audrey Reeg led South Dakota with a match-high 21 kills and 18 digs, while Lindsey Brown added 10 kills. Lauren Mattison had a match-high 31digs for the Coyotes, while Brittany Jessen had 46 assists, 16 digs and four kills.
