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FARGO, N.D. – A balanced effort carried North Dakota State to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-15) win over South Dakota State in a Summit League match played Tuesday, Oct. 17, before 524 fans at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. The Bison improved to 9-1 at home this season.
 
NDSU (15-5, 6-2 SL) moved into second-place, a half-game behind first-place Oral Roberts and half-game ahead of Denver and South Dakota, entering this weekend. The Bison host South Dakota (11-8, 5-2 SL) at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22. USD plays at Western Illinois on Friday, Oct. 20.
 
South Dakota State (2-19, 0-8 SL) made things interesting as the first set was tied seven times with a pair of lead changes. Erika Gelzinyte's kill broke the final tie to put NDSU ahead 12-11 and Brianna Rasmusson promptly followed with a service ace.
 
North Dakota State gradually pulled away as Allie Mauch, Bella Lien and McKenzie Burke combined on blocks, while Jessica Jorgensen, Burke and Rasmusson found the seams in the defense.
 
NDSU stormed out to a big lead and kept it throughout in the second set. SDSU rallied in the third and tied things at 12-all on a Payton Richardson kill. However, the Bison closed on a 13-3 run sparked by the serving of Emilee McGowan, who notched a season-high four service aces to end the set and the match.
 
Burke led NDSU with nine kills and career-high .348 hitting percentage. Gelzinyte finished with eight kills and Jorgensen added seven. The Bison outhit SDSU .260 to .102. Rasmusson had 30 assists, six digs, four kills, four blocks and a pair of aces. Lien collected a match-high five blocks to go with six kills, while Mikaela Purnell pocketed a match-high 16 digs.
 
Ashlynn Smith led South Dakota State with seven kills. Mattison Munger combined for 26 assists, while Ellie Benson came up with 13 digs.