FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State came back from a 2-set deficit to defeat Buffalo 3-2 (26-28, 19-25, 25-7, 25-20, 15-12) in the morning and blanked Green Bay 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-21) in the afternoon at the NDSU Classic on Saturday, Sept. 14, before 780 fans in the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
 
The Bison (5-4) are scheduled to open against Georgia Southern (4-3) at the Tennessee Classic on Sept. 20, in Knoxville.
 
For the second time this season and 11th time since 1999, North Dakota State came back from a 2-set deficit. The Bison hit .455 and recorded their first blocks of the match against Buffalo in taking the third set.
 
The fourth set was tied nine times with five lead changes. Syra Tanchin delivered a kill and combined on block with teammate Bella Lien to help put NDSU ahead 21-18. A kill from Lien, an ace from Kaylee Hanger, and kills from Allie Mauch and Kalli Hegerle finished the set.
 
Buffalo (2-7) closed to within 13-12 in the fifth set one of the last of Rachel Sanks' match-high 20 kills, but Mauch and Tanchin found the seams in the defense to close out the set and the match.
 
Tanchin in her second match of the season led NDSU with 17 kills, three service aces and nine digs. Alexis Bachmeier had 12 kills and 15 digs to claim her fourth straight 'double-double'. It was a community effort for the Bison. Kalli Hegerle collected 19 assists, 10 digs nine kills and four blocks. Emily Halverson and Mauch each had eight kills, Lien had a team-high six blocks.
 
Buffalo outhit NDSU .214 to .196, but the Bison held a 12-2 advantage in service aces and 10-8 edge in blocks.
 
North Dakota State road the momentum in handing Green Bay (7-2) its second loss of the season. The first set featured 12 ties early until the Bison broke free from a 14-14 deadlock and kept the Phoenix at a distance. Mauch had a pair of kills, Tanchin had one and also combined on a block with Lien.
 
NDSU jumped out in front early in the second and hit .296 behind the alert play of Kaylee Hanger, Halverson, Tanchin, Mauch and Hegerle.
 
The third and deciding set was tightly contested. Taylor Wolf and Ashley Sledge provided the offense as Green Bay took an 18-17 lead. The Bison reeled off three straight points to go ahead 20-18 including an ace from Tanchin and Bachmeier kill. Four different players – Hegerle, Lien, Bachmeier and Mauch – had kills to close out the match.
 
North Dakota State outhit Green Bay .258 to .183 led by the match-high 12 kills from Mauch, while Tanchin and Hegerle each had eight. Lien finished with five blocks, while Tanchin chipped in 10 digs. Kelley Johnson and Hegerle combined for 31 assists, and Hanger added nine digs. 
 
Hegerle and Halverson named to the NDSU Classic all-tournament team.
 
NDSU Classic, Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse, Fargo, N.D.
Saturday, Sept. 14
Bison 3, Buffalo 2 (26-28, 19-25, 25-7, 25-20, 15-12)
Bison 3, Green Bay 0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-21)
 
Friday, Sept. 13
Cal 3, Buffalo 0 (25-18, 25-7, 27-25)
Green Bay 3, Buffalo 0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-20)
Cal 3, NDSU 1 (25-27, 25-17, 25-22, 25-16)
 
NDSU Classic All-Tournament Team
Mima Mirkovic, Cal
Savannah Rennie, Cal
Kalli Hegerle, NDSU
Emily Halverson, NDSU
Taylor Wolf, Green Bay
Lexi Nordmann, Buffalo