MACOMB, Ill. – North Dakota State came up with 85 digs and 12 team blocks to muscle past Western Illinois 3-1 (19-25, 25-21, 27-25, 25-22) in a Summit League volleyball match played Sunday, Nov. 3. NDSU swept the season series with the Leathernecks.
 
The Bison (11-13, 6-6 SL) stay on the Summit League road and play at league-leading South Dakota (23-1, 12-0 SL) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, in Sanford Coyote Sports Center. USD defeated Denver 3-1 in Vermillion on Sunday.
 
NDSU rebounded behind a determined defense after Western Illinois (6-19, 3-9 SL) over the next three sets, but it didn't come easy. Only nine points separated the two teams over the next three sets that featured 33 tie scores and 16 lead changes.
 
The Bison trailed 21-20 in the second set before closing on a 5-0 run highlighted by kills from Bella Lien and Maggie Steffen, and Kelley Johnson service ace. NDSU was down 25-24 in set three, but received kills from Emily Halverson and Lien, and a combo block from Halverson and Alexis Bachmeier. The Bison held off Western Illinois in the fourth set including plays from Kalli Hegerle, Bachmeier and Halverson.
 
Lien matched her career-high with eight blocks, while Bachmeier had five stops. Abbi Klos collected a season-high 19 digs, while Bachmeier followed with 16 and Kaylee Hanger had 15.
 
That led to offense as Allie Mauch and Lien each had 10 kills, while Halverson claimed nine and hit .563. Hegerle and Johnson combined for 44 assists and 13 digs.
 
Western Illinois was paced by the nine kills from JoJo Kruize, Mariah Mitchell and Aubrey Putman. Jessie Connell and Cassie Hunt combined for 38 assists, while Gabby DePersio came up with a match-high 22 digs. The Leathernecks outhit NDSU .106 to .086 and held a 15-12 edge in team blocks led by Madeline Dieter and Mackenzie Steckler, who each had seven.