MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – North Dakota State closed out the Chippewa Invitational with an exhausting 3-2 (21-25, 25-13, 25-20, 22-25, 15-12) win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 7, at McGuirk Arena. NDSU finished the tournament with a 2-1 record in three 5-game matches.
 
The Bison (3-3) are scheduled to play Cal (4-0) at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, in the NDSU Classic at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
 
North Dakota State rebounded from the first set loss with a 25-13 win in the second. The third was tied 17-17 before Emily Halverson, Ally Murphy and Allie Mauch helped the Bison put together an 8-3 run to close the set. Halverson had 6 of her 7 kills in the set.
 
Eastern Illinois (1-5) bounced back by taking the fourth set and led 7-4 in the fifth. The Bison went on a 5-0 run to take an 8-7 lead on Kaylee Hanger's service ace. NDSU scored three straight to take a 12-9 lead including kills from Kalli Hegerle and Alexis Bachmeier. Bachmeier and Murphy both struck again to keep the Panthers at a distance.
 
Bachmeier completed the 'double-double' with a team-high 13 kills and 19 digs. Hegerle put together her third 'triple-double' of the weekend and fourth in six matches with 10 kills, 11 digs and 21 assists. Murphy collected a career-high 12 kills and hit. 290, while Halverson had eight kills and team-high four blocks.

Halverson was named to the Chippewa Invitational all-tournament team. She hit .404 (28-5-57) with 11 blocks including 4 solos, 12 digs, 4 assists and 3 service aces.