KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Ali Hinze totaled a match-high 20 kills as the fourth-seeded North Dakota State volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision against fifth-seeded Denver in the first round of the Summit League Championship on Sunday night at Swinney Center.

With the loss, NDSU finishes its season with a 12-14 (8-8 Summit) overall record and advanced to the Summit League Championship for the third straight season. Denver (13-14, 7-9 Summit) advances to take on top-seeded South Dakota State (26-1, 15-1 Summit) on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. CT

Hinze led the way with her 11th double-double of the season with a match-high 20 kills to go along with 12 digs. Arianna Blohm contributed 12 kills with a match-high seven blocks, while Maddy Domback passed out a team-best 29 assists. Logan O'Brien also tallied a team-best 15 digs on the defensive end.

Both teams battled through a match-high 20 tie scores and seven lead changes in the opening set. The Bison grabbed a late 28-27 edge following an attack error. The Pioneers then answered with three straight points to take the frame, 30-28.

NDSU responded in the second frame building a 16-11 advantage at the midway point following a kill from Emma Tallman. The Bison then stretched their lead to 22-16 with a kill from Alexis Boling. NDSU went on to win the set, 25-19.

Denver answered back in the third set sprinting out to a 12-5 edge following an attack error. NDSU slowly pulled its way back and used a 6-1 run to lock the contest, 24-24, after a service ace from Lauren Jansen. However, the Pioneers responded with a kill from Ava Reynolds and an attack error to steal the frame, 26-24.

The two teams continued to trade points into the fourth set until the Bison grabbed a 21-18 advantage with a kill from Hinze. The Pioneers then rattled off 6-1 run to regain the lead, 24-22, with a kill from Briley Decker. Denver went on to hold off NDSU the reset of the way to win the frame, 25-23, and the match, 3-1.