GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Allie Mauch exploded for a career-high 19 kills and McKenzie Burke followed with her sixth career 'double-double' (14 kills/15 digs) as North Dakota State dropped a 3-2 (22-25, 20-25, 25-18, 26-24, 9-15) Summit League  marathon before 2,401 fans at the Betty Engelstad Sports Center on Wednesday, Sept. 26.
 
NDSU (2-12, 0-3 SL) is scheduled to host South Dakota State (3-12, 0-2 SL) at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
 
North Dakota (10-8, 2-1 SL) took the first two sets by a total of eight points, but the Bison bounced back to not only win its first set since 2014 against the Fighting Hawks but take the next two to force their third straight fifth set match.
 
NDSU trailed 24-21 in set four and rattled off the last five points including back-to-back service aces from Abbi Klos, who finished with a career-high five aces overall. Klos led a group of five Bison with double-figure digs with 22 – notching her second career match with 20-plus.
 
Mauch was a ring-leader at the net and gathered steam as the match progressed. Her previous match-high was 14 against Appalachian State last season.
 
There were plenty of options for setter Kalli Hegerle, though, as Burke had 14, Alexis Bachmeier followed with nine and Emily Halverson added eight in the middle. Hegerle finished with 46 assists, 15 digs and a pair of blocks. Kaylee Hanger and Bachmeier both came up with 12 digs, while Bella Lien recorded four blocks.
 
Jordan Vail led the Fighting Hawks with 19 kills, hit .567 and had a match-high six blocks, while Brynn Niuekirk collected 18 kills to lead a group of five players with double-figure kills. Roosa Rautio finished with 61 assists, while Taliyah Flores claimed a match-high 30 digs.
 
North Dakota outhit NDSU .258 to .171 overall and held a 12-9 advantage in team blocks.