FARGO, N.D. – For the second time in the last four seasons, the North Dakota State volleyball team has opened Summit League play with a 5-0 mark after sweeping Denver, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

The Bison pushed their win streak to five matches improved to 11-4 (5-0 Summit) on the season, including an 8-0 mark at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. It marks the best start to a home schedule since winning the first eight matches during the 2020 spring season. With the loss, Denver drops to 12-5 (4-2 Summit) on the season.

Arianna Blohm led the way with 10 kills to go along with .714 hitting percentage and no errors. She also tallied a match-best six blocks with two digs on the defensive side. Lauren Jansen totaled a match-high 11 kills, while Maddy Dombeck handed out a match-best 21 assists with six digs.

After Denver jumped out to a 18-13 lead in the first frame, the Bison stormed back with six straight points to steal the edge, 19-18, with a kill from Baily Randall. NDSU then captured momentum closing the set with a 6-2 run capped off by a block from Blohm and Emma Tallman to steal the set, 25-20.

The two teams exchanged points throughout the second frame until Denver grabbed a 20-19 lead with a kill from Kate Perryman. The Bison answered back to lock the set, 21-21, with a block from Blohm and Tallman. Following a Pioneer kill from Ava Reynolds, NDSU closed the set with four straight points, including back-to-back kills from Blohm to seal the frame, 25-22.

Both teams continued to battle into the third frame that saw a match-high 13 ties and five lead changes. NDSU opened up a late 21-19 edge with a kill from Blohm. The Pioneers then responded with three straight points of their own to steal the lead, 22-21, after a bad set. NDSU answered to close the set on a 4-1 run that included two kills from Zoe John to win the frame, 25-23, and the match, 3-0.

NDSU will be back in action at South Dakota State on Thursday. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.