Bison Volleyball Splits Day One of NDSU Tournament

FARGO, ND The North Dakota State volleyball team edged Chicago State, 3-2, before coming up short against Central Michigan, 3-2, on Friday at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

In the first match, NDSU (5-3) grinded out a 3-2 win over Chicago State (2-6). Kelley Johnson logged her fourth double-double of the season with a career-high 58 assists and career-best 25 digs. Michelle Glover also added a career-high 19 kills and a team-best five blocks. Syra Tanchin contributed 18 kills and 18 digs, while Ali Hinze posted 16 kills and 13 digs.

After splitting the first two sets to lock the contest, 1-1, both teams battled through the third frame that featured a match-high 11 ties and five lead changes. Hinze was able to deadlock the frame late, 23-23, with a kill. However, the Cougars then took advantage of three straight attack errors to win the set, 25-23.

NDSU pushed back in the fourth frame building a 19-15 advantage following a kill from Alexis Boling. Chicago State trimmed the deficit down to one, 22-21, after a kill from Yanlis Feliz. The Bison answered to close out the frame on a 3-1 run with two kills from Glover to win the set, 25-22.

After both teams found themselves locked, 9-9, NDSU erupted for a momentum-shifting 5-1 run to open up a 14-10 advantage in the fifth set following a kill from Tanchin. The Bison went on to hold off the Cougars the rest of the way to win the frame, 15-11, and the match, 3-2.

In the second match of the day, Central Michigan (6-1) snuck by NDSU, 3-2. Hinze tallied a team-high 21 kills with 12 digs, while Tanchin added 20 kills and 15 digs. Johnson tied a career-high 58 assists with 13 digs. Logan O’Brien contributed a career-high and match-best 33 digs on the defensive side of the floor.

After Central Michigan won the first two sets of the match, NDSU battled back in the third set opening up a 17-9 edge after a kill from Tanchin. The Chippewas pushed back cutting the edge down to 21-18 following a kill from Maddie Whitfield. However, NDSU held off Central Michigan the rest of the way to win the frame, 25-21.

NDSU kept the momentum Rolling into the fourth set sprinting out to an 11-4 lead following an attack error to force a Central Michigan timeout. The Bison didn’t look back from there expanding their lead up to 10, 16-6, following a kill from Boling. NDSU went on to win the set, 25-17.

Both teams fought throughout the fifth set that saw a match-high 15 tie scores and five lead changes. Tanchin was able to connect on back-to-back kills for the Bison to lock the frame late, 18-18. The Chippewas then sealed the match with a kill from Mallory Hernandez and an attack error to Steal the frame, 20-18, and the match, 3-2.

The Bison will wrap up play at the NDSU Tournament Tomorrow against Montana State. First serve is set for 10 am at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.