GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota State volleyball team rolled past North Dakota, 3-0, on Saturday night at Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
With the win, NDSU improved to 14-9 (8-5 Summit) on the season and completed the regular season sweep of North Dakota (7-17, 4-9 Summit). The Bison have also won 15 of the last 17 matchups with the Fighting Hawks.
Baily Randall reached double digits in kills for the second straight match with a match-high 11 kills to go along with six digs.
Cathy Porter posted her fourth double-double of the season with a match-best 23 assists and 11 digs, while
Lauren Jansen totaled a career-high 16 digs with seven kills.
NDSU used a fast start to open up a 9-3 edge with a kill from
Maddy Dombeck in the first set. The Bison then put together a 7-2 run to push their lead to 19-9 with a kill from
Arianna Blohm. NDSU, who posted a .389 hitting percentage in the frame, went on to win the set, 25-17.
The two teams then battled through a match-high 12 tie scores and three lead changes in the second set until the Bison grabbed a 20-19 advantage with a block from Jansen and Blohm. NSDU then assembled a 4-1 run capped off by back-to-back kills from Blohm and John to stretch the lead to 24-21. The Bison held off the Fighting Hawks the rest of the way, 25-23.
Both teams once again traded points in the third frame until the Bison used three quick points to open up a 20-16 lead after an attack error. Following a pair of kills from Kimanni Rugley, NDSU started to put the match away with a quick 3-1 run to make the score 23-19 with a kill from Blohm. The Bison went on to win the set, 25-21, and the match, 3-0.
NDSU will be back in action hosting St. Thomas on Thursday. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.