FORT MYERS, Fla. – The North Dakota State volleyball team dropped a pair of matches against UAlbany and Florida Gulf Coast on Friday at the Fort Myers Classic at Alico Arena to open the 2024 season.

In match one, the Bison (0-2) fell short against UAlbany (1-1), 3-0. Ali Hinze led the way for NDSU with a team-high 11 kills to go along with three digs, while Lauren Jansen added in 10 kills with five digs. Maddy Dombeck, who was making her Bison debut, handed out a team-best 18 assists and Logan O'Brien contributed a team-best 12 digs on the defensive side.

After the Great Danes took the first set, 25-21, both teams worked through the second frame that featured six ties and four lead changes. The Bison opened up a late 23-20 edge following an attack error before UAlbany closed out the set on a 5-0 run to win the frame, 25-23. The Great Danes carried that momentum into the final frame with five straight points to make the score 18-13 after an attack error. UAlbany went on to win the set, 25-16, and the match, 3-0.

In the second match, NDSU dropped a 3-2 thriller against Florida Gulf Coast (1-0). Hinze paced the Bison logging her first double-double of the season with a team-best 12 kills to go along with 19 digs. Dombeck passed out a team-high 19 assists and O'Brien logged a match-best 24 digs.

After falling behind 2-1, the Bison rallied in the fourth set notching a .321 hitting percentage. NDSU put together a momentum-shifting 5-0 run capped off by a kill from Baily Randall to make the score 15-12. The Bison then pushed their advantage to 22-15 after Hinze delivered a kill. NDSU went on to win the fourth frame, 25-19.

The Bison opened the fifth frame building a 10-5 edge following a service ace from Randall. However, the Eagles responded with a 9-1 run to steal the lead, 14-11. Florida Gulf Coast went on to win the set, 15-12, and the match, 3-2.

NDSU will wrap up play at the Fort Myers Classic tomorrow against Illinois Chicago. First serve is set for 12:30 p.m. CT