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FARGO, N.D.--
Hadley Steffen connected for a career-high 16 kills and hit .364 as North Dakota State University pushed past IUPUI 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-20) in a Summit League volleyball match played Saturday, Sept. 24, before 719 spectators in the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
NDSU (2-0 Summit League, 4-11) is scheduled to play at South Dakota (1-0 SL, 12-2) on Friday, Sept. 30, and at Western Illinois (0-1 SL, 3-13) on Sunday, Oct. 2. USD hosts Oral Roberts and Western Illinois entertains Fort Wayne on Sunday.
North Dakota State pushed for points in bunches against IUPUI (1-1 Summit League, 5-12). The Bison trailed 19-17 in the first set before reeling off seven straight points to gain the momentum.
Jessica Jorgensen started the rally with a kill,
Alex Erickson served back-to-back aces, and Steffen recorded a solo block and kill to highlight the comeback.
NDSU broke free early in the second set with five straight points and seven of the next nine to extend an 11-8 lead into 18-10.
Emily Minnick, Steffen and Erickson all had kills during the rally, while
Ali Moody recorded on of her two kills.
The Bison battled back as IUPUI used a five-point and six-point runs to go ahead 17-16 in set three.
Jessica Jorgensen had a pair of kills and combined on a block with
Emily Miron, while
Morgan Morgan contributed an ace to keep NDSU ahead.
Steffen, a 5-foot-10 senior from Grand Forks, N.D., was one of five players with five or more kills as the Bison hit .295 against the Jaguars. Steffen had 16 kills and only four errors in 33 attacks. She added 10 digs to completed her fourth 'double-double' of the season.
Brianna Rasmusson had plenty of options, finishing with 41 assists. Jorgensen claimed nine kills, while Minnick and Erickson each had seven, and Miron added five.
Defensively, Jorgensen and Miron each had three blocks as the NDSU finished with six team blocks.
Mikaela Purnell recorded a match-high 16 digs to spark the backrow play. Rasmusson had seven digs, while Morgan came up with six.
Kori Waelbroeck led the Jaguars with 13 kills and three blocks. Alexis Mapes finished with 27 assists and 13 digs. IUPUI hit .135 overall.
