FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State volleyball team topped Saint Mary’s in five sets, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Bison improve to 3-0 on the season and it marks the third time in the last four seasons that NDSU has started the season winning its first three matches. Saint Mary’s dropped to 1-2 overall on the season with the loss.
Lauren Jansen paced the Bison with a team-best 13 kills to go along with eight digs, while Zoe John tallied 12 kills on 19 attempts for a .579 hitting percentage. Maddy Dombeck passed out a team-best 21 assists with eight digs and Rya Borer posted a team-high 10 digs on the defensive side of the floor.
After both teams split the first two sets, the Bison responded in the third frame with a match-best .538 hitting percentage. NDSU, who never trailed in the set, sprinted out to a 17-9 advantage with a kill from Arianna Blohm. The Bison then used another four straight points to increase their lead to 21-10 following an attack error. NDSU went on to win the set, 25-18.
Saint Mary’s pushed back in the fourth frame building an 11-5 edge with a kill from Genevieve Bane. NDSU pulled its way back within two, 17-15, after a kill from Ally Barth and two attack errors. The Gaels answered to close the set on an 8-2 run and won the frame, 25-17.
Saint Mary’s carried the momentum into the fifth set doubling up the Bison, 8-4, at the midway point. The Gaels then pushed their lead to 12-9 with a service ace from Ivona Lazovic. However, the Bison surged back to close the set with six unanswered points, including three kills from Emma Tallman to win the frame, 15-12, and the match, 3-2.
NDSU will be back in action in the Ellesyn Invitational in Missoula, Mont., against Oakland on Friday. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. CT
https://gobison.com/news/2025/8/31/womens-volleyball-ndsu-volleyball-edges-saint-marys-in-five-set-thriller.aspx