FARGO, N.D. –  After dropping the first two sets, the North Dakota State volleyball team battled back to force a fifth frame before falling short against Denver, 3-2, on senior day on Saturday afternoon at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

Syra Tanchin notched her 10th double-double of the season with a match-high 19 kills and 14 digs, while Ali Hinze poured in 16 kills with 13 digs. Kelley Johnson also handed out a match-best 46 assists with 10 digs. Michelle Artis rounded out the top performers with 13 kills and a career-high nine total blocks.

After dropping the first two sets to the Pioneers (18-10, 12-5 Summit), 25-17, and, 27-25, NDSU (19-9, 12-4 Summit) pushed back in the third frame assembling a 5-0 run to steal at 19-18 lead following a block from Ally Barth and Johnson. Both teams then traded points to lock the contest, 26-26. The Bison closed the frame on a momentum-shifting 3-1 run capped off by a service ace from Logan O'Brien to win the set, 29-27.

The Bison carried the energy into the fourth set putting together an 8-1 run to open up a 22-14 edge after a block from Artis and Johnson. Denver attempted to spark a comeback with a 3-1 run of its own to cut the deficit to 23-17 after block. The Bison held off the Pioneers the rest of the way to win the set, 25-17.

Denver started fast in the fifth frame building a 7-4 lead by the midway point. The Bison made one final surge cutting the lead down to two, 9-7, following a kill from Hinze. However, the Pioneers finished the set on a 6-2 run to win the frame, 15-9, and the match, 3-2.

NDSU will be back in action at South Dakota on Thursday night. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.