DAYTON, OHIO – The North Dakota State volleyball team split the first day at the Dayton Flyer Classic after edging Butler, 3-2, and falling short against Dayton, 3-1, on Friday night at Frericks Center.

In the first match of the day, the Bison (4-1) edged Butler (3-2), 3-2. NDSU started fast in the first set opening up a 16-10 edge following an ace from Taylor Quan. The Bison, who never trailed in the frame, increased their lead to 22-17 after a kill from Morgan Middleton. NDSU went on to hold off Butler the rest of the way, 25-19.

The Bulldogs and Bison battled through the second frame that featured nine ties and five lead changes before Butler built a four-point edge, 16-12, by the midway point. Butler used a .333 hitting percentage in the frame to win the set, 25-19.

The Bulldogs carried the momentum into the third frame assembling a 5-0 run to steal a 19-13 lead and force a Bison timeout. NDSU fought back trimming the deficit down to three late, 24-21, following an ace from Kelley Johnson. However, Butler closed out the frame, 25-21, after a kill from Mariah Grunze.

NDSU fought its way back in the fourth frame putting together a clutch 3-0 run capped off by a kill from Alexis Boling to make the score 18-15. The Bison continued to apply pressure building a 23-20 advantage following a kill from Ali Hinze. The Bison went on to win the set, 25-21.

NDSU began the fifth frame doubling up Butler, 10-5, following back-to-back kills from Boling. After the Bulldogs were able to add a kill coming out of a timeout, the Bison closed the frame with four straight points, including two more from Boling to win the set, 15-6, and the match, 3-2.

As a team, the Bison totaled a season-high 66 kills and season-best 91 digs on the defensive side.

Boling paced NDSU with a career-best 19 kills, while Hinze added her third straight double-double with a season-high 18 kills and 15 digs. Johnson handed out a season-best 51 assists to go along with a season-high 22 digs.

In the second match, NDSU fell short against Dayton (3-1), 3-1. The Flyers, who entered the week receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 Poll, wasted no time opening up a 15-8 advantage by the media timeout of the first set. Dayton then increased its lead up to 19-11 to force an NDSU timeout. The Bison slowly fought their way back cutting the deficit down to two, 24-22, after a kill from Hinze. However, NDSU couldn't complete the comeback and dropped the set, 25-22.

Dayton once again started fast in the second frame with a 5-1 lead following an attack error. Both teams traded points until the Flyers stretched their edge to 20-17 to force a Bison timeout after a kill from Alayna Yates. Dayton held off NDSU the rest of the way to take the set, 25-19.

NDSU responded in the third frame sprinting out to a 7-2 lead after a kill from Johnson. The Bison, who posted a .391 hitting percentage in the set, continued to surge expanding their advantage to 15-7 following a kill from Hinze. The Bison outlasted the Flyers to win the set, 25-19.

Dayton responded in the fourth set building an 11-5 edge after an ace from Taylor Russell. The Flyers then started to put the match away stretching their lead into double figures, 20-10, following a kill from Amelia Moore. NDSU went on to drop the set, 25-16, and the match, 3-1.

Hinze paced the Bison with a match-high 14 kills to go along with eight digs. Middleton added a career-high 13 kills, while Quan chipped in a team-best 16 digs.

Johnson rounded out the top performers with a team-best 37 assists with four digs. The Eagan, Minn., also native surpassed the 3,000 career assists mark and ranks 10th all-time in NDSU history with 3,066 assists.

NDSU will wrap up play at the Dayton Flyer Classic tomorrow against Ohio. First serve is set for 10:00 a.m. CT