MACOMB, Ill. – McKenzie Burke connected for 14 kills and Allie Mauch claimed 13 kills as North Dakota State defeated Western Illinois 3-1 (25-14, 25-21, 17-25, 25-17) in a Summit League match played Friday, Oct.5, in Western Hall.
 
NDSU (4-13, 2-4 SL) is scheduled to play at Purdue Fort Wayne (11-8, 2-3 SL) at noon Central Time on Sunday, Oct. 7. The Mastodons lost 3-1 to Oral Roberts on Friday night.
 
North Dakota State hit over .300 in the first two sets, but Western Illinois (1-17, 0-5 SL) rallied from a 20-11 deficit in the second set to make things close. The Leathernecks used the momentum to build an early lead and take the third set.
 
Balance carried NDSU in the fourth as Burke, Mauch, Emily Halverson, Alexis Bachmeier and Bella Lien helped the Bison break free and close the set with a 14-6 run.
 
Kalli Hegerle had 45 assists as North Dakota State outhit Western Illinois .250 to .200. Halverson and Bachmeier each had eight kills. The Bison held an 8-7 edge in team blocks as Hegerle and Halverson each had four blocks, and Lien and Mauch both added three.
 
Abbi Klos notched 22 digs, while Kaylee Hanger added 12. Klos reached 20-plus digs for the third time this season and fourth time in her career.
 
Melanie Patenaude led Western Illinois with a match-high 15 kills and 10 digs, while Shiah Sanders had 11 kills and four blocks, and Emma Norris added 10 kills. Jaime Johnson finished with 43 assists, Claire Grove collected 20 digs