FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State volleyball team cruised past Portland State, 3-0, and Toledo, 3-0, in straight sets at the NDSU Tournament on Friday at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

NDSU (6-2) and Portland State (4-4) battled throughout the opening set that featured a match-high 16 ties and seven lead changes until the Vikings notched back-to-back kills from Gabby Hollins to steal a 23-22 edge. Following a timeout, the Bison rattled off three straight points, including a kill and an ace from Ali Hinze to seal the set, 25-23.

Both teams continued to trade points into the second stanza working through 10 ties and six lead changes. The Vikings surged late to lock the contest, 20-20, following another kill from Hollins. The Bison then answered finishing the frame on a momentum-shifting 5-1 run capped off with a service ace from Morgan Middleton to take the set, 25-21.

The Bison carried the energy into the third frame building a five-point edge, 17-12, after a kill from Middleton. NDSU then took advantage of an attack error to stretch its lead to 22-16. The Bison held off the Vikings the rest of way to win the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.

Hinze led the way for NDSU logging a double-double with a team-high 11 kills and match-best 14 digs, while Middleton also reached double figures in kills with 10. Kelley Johnson passed out a match-best 33 assists with five digs and Taylor Quan chipped in 13 digs.

In the second match of the day, NDSU cruised past Toledo (2-5), 3-0. Both teams exchanged points in the opening set until the Bison assembled six straight points to build a 16-11 advantage by the midway point. After the Rockets trimmed the deficit down to two, 19-17, NDSU closed the frame on a 6-2 run win the set, 25-19.

NDSU wasted no time in the second frame doubling up Toledo, 10-5, after a solo block from Arianna Blohm. The Bison then pushed their edge to 18-12 following a 3-0 run capped off by a block from Blohm and Hinze. NDSU went on to win the second stanza, 25-19.

The Bison started the third frame running out to an 18-12 lead following an attack error. After the Rockets connected on three straight points, the Bison began to put the match away with a 6-0 run to make the score 24-15 after an ace from Blohm. NDSU closed out the set, 25-17, and the match, 3-0.

Middleton paced the Bison with a career-high 14 kills, while Hinze and Boling each added in 10 kills of their own. Johnson distributed a match-best 31 assists with eight digs and Quan contributed a team-best 13 digs on the defensive side.

NDSU will back in action against Robert Morris next Thursday at the Mountaineer Invitational in Morgantown, W. Va. First serve is set for 11:30 a.m. CT