WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The North Dakota State volleyball team dropped a five-set marathon against Davidson, 3-2, in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) on Friday afternoon at Reynolds Gymnasium.

With the loss, NDSU finishes the season with a 21-12 overall record. The Bison reached the 20-win mark for only the fifth time in the Division I era and first time under head coach Jennifer Lopez.

Ali Hinze led the way for the Bison notching a double-double with a match-high 18 kills with 10 digs. She finished the season reaching double digits in kills in 21 straight matches. Syra Tanchin also added in 15 kills with six digs, while Kelley Johnson distributed a match-high 48 assists with 12 digs. Logan O'Brien led the way on the defensive end with a match-best 21 digs.

Davidson (21-10) started off fast running out to a 10-4 advantage to force an NDSU timeout. The Bison then settled in working their way back to steal the lead, 19-18, following a kill from Johnson. Davidson pushed back to lock the set, 23-23, after a service ace. However, the Bison closed the frame with two straight points to win the stanza, 25-23.

Both teams traded points early in the second frame to lock the contest, 8-8, following a kill from Tanchin. The Wildcats then constructed a 5-1 run to steal a 13-9 advantage. NDSU made one final comeback attempt in the set with three straight points to cut the deficit down to 21-16 after a block from Tanchin and Alexis Boling. The Wildcats went on to hold off the Bison the rest of the way to win the set, 25-18.

After Davidson snatched a 9-8 lead to begin the third set, NDSU constructed a momentum-shifting 8-0 run to build a 16-9 lead following a kill from Ally Barth. The Bison didn't look back from there going on to close out the set with seven straight points to win the frame, 25-12. NDSU registered a .370 hitting percentage in the stanza.

NDSU started the fourth set opening up a 16-11 lead following a kill from Barth. Davidson then raced back to steal the lead, 23-22, after four straight points. Tanchin answered for the Bison with a kill to lock the set, 23-23. However, the Wildcats grabbed back-to-back points to win the set, 25-23.

Davidson once again got off to a fast start in the fifth set with an 8-5 advantage. NDSU answered back with four straight points to steal the lead, 9-8, after Johnson was able to sneak a kill over the net. The Wildcats responded with a 5-1 run to open up a 13-10 edge following an attack error. NDSU made one final surge trimming the deficit down to one, 13-12, after a block from Barth. The Wildcats went on to hold off the Bison rest of the way to win the set, 15-13, and the match, 3-2.