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FARGO, N.D. -- North Dakota State held off South Dakota State for a 3-1 (25-22, 25-6, 21-25, 25-22) Summit League volleyball victory on Thursday, Nov. 10, before 659 spectators at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. The Bison have won six in a row and seven of their last eight matches.

NDSU (11-4 SL, 13-16) is scheduled to close out the regular season against league-leading Denver (12-2 SL, 20-6) at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 during Senior Day. Denver plays at South Dakota (11-3 SL, 22-6) on Friday. The Bison are a half-game behind USD in the league standings.

McKenzie Burke came up with three of her career-high eight kills for North Dakota State in the back-and-forth first set. SDSU led 21-19 before the Bison came back to tie the set at 21-all on Burke's first of three kills. Ashlynn Smith's attack tied the set for the ninth time at 22-22 before Burke's delivered her second to give NDSU the lead for good and the third was the clincher for the 25-22 win.

North Dakota State rode the momentum into the second set and exploded for 15 straight points including a career-high five service aces from Morgan Morgan. The Bison hit .625 in the second set on contributions from Emily Minnick, Hadley Steffen, Brianna Rasmusson. Minnick and Rasmusson also combined for five blocks in the set.

South Dakota State (4-11 SL, 5-22) rallied in the third set behind Ashley Beaner and Makenzie Hennen to build leads of 18-11 and 20-12.

The Jackrabbits stormed out to a 17-10 advantage on Sierra Peterson's kill in the fourth set. However, the Bison battled back behind kills from Monica Claxton and Minnick, along with a pair of service aces from Ali Moody. Enter Burke again, who had came up with key attacks, while Hadley Steffen's solo block put NDSU ahead 22-20. Kills by Minnick, Rasmusson and Miron closed out the set and the match.

Minnick connected for a match-high 17 kills, hit .586 and had five blocks to pace North Dakota State. Steffen completed her 10th 'double-double' of the season with 11 kills and 14 digs. Rasmusson collected 32 assists and 14 digs for her 10th 'double-double', and added four kills and four blocks. Mikaela Purnell had 17 digs, while Emily Milligan added 13.

NDSU outhit SDSU .245 to .187 and also held an 8-5 advantage in team blocks.

Beaner had 13 kills and 14 digs, Nayza Thies claimed 11 kills and 15 digs, while Mattison Munger finished with 45 assists and 10 digs. Ellie Benson came up with a match-high 24 digs.