FORT WAYNE, Ind. — For the second time this season, Fort Wayne and North Dakota State went to five sets. This time a different result as NDSU rallied for the win 3-2 (23-25, 31-29, 25-19, 18-25, 15-12) in a Summit League match played Friday, Nov. 4. The teams split the season series.
 
NDSU (9-4 SL, 11-16) is scheduled to play at IUPUI (7-5 SL, 11-16) at 5 p.m. Central Time Saturday, Nov. 5, in Indianapolis.
 
Fort Wayne led 8-3 and 11-7 in set five, the latter on a Bison attack error.
 
Erika Gelzinyte and Brianna Rasmusson each had a kill to close the gap to 11-9. Four straight Fort Wayne errors, along with a Hadley Steffen kill put NDSU ahead 14-11. The Mastodons cut the deficit to 14-12 before Emily Minnick delivered the set and match-winning kill.
 
Minnick connected for a match-high 19 kills, one off her career best, and a .350 hitting percentage. She led a group of four players with 14 or more kills. Steffen followed with 15, while Emily Miron and Gelzinyte each had 14.
 
Minnick recorded nine of her 19 kills in the pivotal second set that was tied nine time down the stretch. She had the final four points on four kills for the Bison. Minnick also led the team three blocks.
 
Minnick, Gelzinyte, Miron and Steffen provided Rasmusson with plenty of options. She finished with a career-high 56 assists, six kills, three service aces and was part of a Bison defensive uprising.
 
While Mikaela Purnell came up with 31 digs, the backrow saw a career-high 25 from Rasmusson and 20 from Emily Milligan. Purnell reached double-figure digs for the 16th time in 17 matches played. Purnell also have five matches this season with 30-plus digs.
 
Both teams hit .225 for the match. Lauren Hoffman had 18 kills and hit. 357 to lead four Fort Wayne hitters with double-figure kills. Olivia Hahn claimed a match-high 39 digs and had four other teammates in double-figures. Madison Jaqua had 43 assists and 19 digs, while Natasha Medic and Natalie Seiler each had five blocks.