GREEN BAY, Wis.  – Raegen Reilly handed out a team-high 21 assists as North Dakota State fell short against Ball State, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon at the Green Bay Invite.

In a fast-paced opening frame both teams traded points until NDSU assembled a 4-0 run to grab a 17-15 advantage after an attack error. The Cardinals then stormed back to lock the contest back up at 21-21 to force a Bison timeout. Ball State went on to close out the frame on a 4-2 to run to seal the set win, 25-23.

The Cardinals took control of the second stanza quickly building a 7-2 edge. NDSU battled back to take a three-point lead, 19-16, following five unanswered points and force a Ball State timeout. Abby Stark highlighted the run contributing three service aces. However, the Cardinals answered with a 9-1 run to steal the second set, 25-20.

In a back and forth third set, Ali Hinze locked the contest up, 15-15, after she sent a kill past the Ball State defense. The Cardinals retaliated with a pivotal 3-0 run to regain the edge, 18-15, and force a Bison timeout. Ball State didn't look back from there and went on to close out the frame, 25-17, and the match, 3-0.

Reilly paced the Bison with 21 assists to go along with seven digs and three aces. Stark reached double digits in kills for her second straight match with a team-high 10. On the offensive side, Syra Tanchin and Hinze each contributed seven kills.

The Bison return to action next Friday at the Chicago State Invite in Chicago, Ill. NDSU will take on Charlotte at 10:00 a.m., before wrapping up the day against Chicago State at 7:00 p.m.