CHICAGO – The North Dakota State volleyball team split the opening day of the Windy City Classic on Friday at the Jones Convocation Center.
In the first match of the day, North Dakota State outlasted Charlotte, 3-2. The Bison had four players reach double digits in kills with
Syra Tanchin leading the way with a team-high 17.
Ali Hinze also notched her first double-double of the season with a season-best 16 digs and 15 kills.
Alexandria Hicks (12) and
Alexis Boling (11) also reached double figures in kills for the Bison.
Abby Stark paced the Bison on the defensive end of the floor with a match-high 17 digs, while
Kelley Johnson rounded out the top performers passing out a match-best 34 assists. As a team, NDSU totaled a season-high 67 kills and season-best 73 digs.
After a slow start in the opening frame, NDSU was able to pull within two, 13-11, after a kill from Boling. However, the Bison couldn't cut the lead down any further and went on to drop the set, 25-18. NDSU battled back in the second stanza with six straight points to steal the early, 12-9, lead following a kill from Tanchin. The Bison posted a .370 hitting percentage in the frame and went on win the set, 25-22, and even the match, 1-1.
Both teams traded points in the third set until the 49ers rattled off three unanswered points to snatch a 22-16 edge. NDSU made one final surge cutting the deficit down to two, 24-22, but couldn't complete the comeback and dropped the set, 25-22. After the 49ers ran out to a 5-0 advantage in the fourth frame, the Bison stormed back to steal the lead, 10-8, following a pair of kills from Johnson and Hinze. NDSU kept the pressure on extending its edge to 21-17 after a clutch block Boling and Johnson. The Bison closed out the frame 25-23 to force a deciding fifth set.
NDSU stole momentum quickly in the fifth frame doubling up the 49ers, 10-5, following an attack error and bad set. The Bison didn't take their foot off the gas from there extending the advantage to 13-6 after Hicks and
Michelle Glover delivered a block. NDSU went on to win the set, 15-9, and the match, 3-2.
In the second match, North Dakota State fell short against Chicago State, 3-0. Hinze paced the Bison posting her second straight double-double with a team-high 13 kills and 10 digs.
Michelle Glover added in seven blocks and four kills, while
Raegen Reilly handed out a team-best 16 assists.
Both teams exchanged points in the first frame that saw a match-high five lead changes until the Cougars assembled a 4-0 run to build a 10-6 edge and force a Bison timeout. North Dakota State then pushed back to steal the lead, 18-17, after a kill from Johnson. However, Chicago State didn't go away and came back to grab two late points to steal the 27-25 win in the opening frame.
The Cougars quickly built a 10-6 edge to get things started in the second set. The Bison then settled in to pull back within two, 13-11, after back-to-back kills from Hinze and Hicks. Chicago State responded stretching its lead back up to four, 18-14, to force a NDSU timeout. The Cougars went on to hold off the Bison to take the set, 25-21.
NDSU battled back in the third stanza jumping out to a 6-3 edge to force an early Chicago State timeout. The Cougars answered right back with a momentum swinging 7-1 run to regain the lead, 10-7. NDSU battled back to lock the contest, 21-21, following a service error. Both teams continued to trade points from there until the Cougars rattled off three straight points to secure the frame, 27-25, and the match, 3-0.
