The Bison volleyball team started off game one of their three-game week with a win on Tuesday night in Grand Forks over UND in four sets. Lauren Jansen and Maddy Dombeck both notched double-doubles, as Jansen was good for 10 kills and 11 digs, and Dombeck logged 19 assists and 12 digs. Eke Denessen also had 14 assists, and Ali Hinze had a team-high 20 digs. 

The Bison and Fighting Hawks traded the first set, with NDSU taking set one, 25-22, and UND taking set two, 25-17. The Bison used a seven-point run in the third set to take a 20-13 lead late. UND responded with an 8-1 run of their own to tie things up at 21 apiece. The Bison were able to close the set on a 4-1 run and took set two, 26-24. 

Momentum carried into set four for the Bison, who opened it up to an early 10-6 run. The Hawks made a push and got it as close as 16-13. An unanswered five-point run for NDSU all but ended this one, as they took a 21-13 lead and won the set 25-17 and the match 3-1. 

NDSU kept rolling into Thursday night as the Bison were able to take down St. Thomas in five sets in Fargo. Arianna Blohm and Ali Hinze set the pace for the Bison offense, both logging 11 kills. Hinze was good for her second double-double of the week and eighth of the season, logging 13 digs, and Logan O’Brien recorded a match-high 31 digs in the five-set win. Three different Bison had double-digit assists, as Maddy Dombeck recorded 18, Eke Denessen had 15, and Lauren Jansen was good for 12. Denessen also recorded her first double-double of the year, logging 10 digs. 

The Bison got off to a hot start, taking set one by a score of 25-21 and set two by a score of 27-25. The Tommies crawled their way out of the hole in set three by jumping out to a 16-13 lead following a 6-1 run. A seven-point run for the Bison took the lead right back at 21-17. A back-and-forth affair after that saw the Tommies close out the set on a 4-2 run to take it 28-26. 

10 different ties in set four saw the Tommies leading 22-19 late. A quick three-point push for NDSU had things all knotted up at two before St. Thomas used a three-point run of their own to take the set, 25-22. 

NDSU jumped out to an early 6-4 lead in set five. The teams traded points until the Bison were able to spout off a four-point run to grab a late 14-11 lead. Any comeback attempt by the Tommies fell short as NDSU wrapped up the set, 15-12, and the match, 3-2. 

The Bison were not able to go 3-0 this week as they dropped a 3-1 decision against Omaha in Fargo on Saturday. Ali Hinze was once again the heart of the offense, logging 9 kills. Denessen (13) and Dombeck (12) both notched another game with double-digit assists. Logan O’Brien led the team with eight digs. 

Omaha was able to jump out to a 16-9 lead in set number one. The Bison were able to use a 5-1 run to cut the lead down to 21-19 after Arianna Blohm recorded a solo block. The Mavericks were able to answer right back with a 4-1 run and closed out the set 25-20. 

A tough-fought set two saw both teams battling through multiple ties and lead changes. An Ali Hinze kill knotted things up at 19 a piece. A 4-3 run for the Mavs gave them a 23-22 lead, but the Bison shut the door, using a 4-2 run to take the second frame 26-24.

The Mavericks quickly took a 14-7 lead in the third set. Keeping their foot on the gas, they were able to close it out by a final score of 25-16. Omaha used another quick start in the fourth set to jump out to a 16-4 lead. The Mavs were able to set the pace and closed out the set, 25-10, and the match, 3-1. 

NDSU will end the week 9-11 overall and 5-6 in the Summit. They will look to get right as they head to Oral Roberts this Thursday. The first serve is set for 7:00 p.m.

This article was written by sports writer Sam Huseby.