NDSU volleyball found themselves victorious this past Thursday after a hard-fought, five-set battle with Oral Roberts at Mabee Center. Ali Hinze set the tone for the visiting Bison, posting a team-high 13 kills and marching that number in digs as well. Arianna Blohm and Alexis Boling were both also in double-digit kills, with Blohm logging 12 and Boling with 10. Three players had double-digit assists for NDSU, as Maddy Dombeck had 27 to go along with 10 digs, Eke Denessen with 18, and Logan O’Brien collected a double-double with 10 assists and a match-high 21 digs. 

Oral Roberts grabbed the momentum early, taking set one by a final score of 25-21, but NDSU fought hard in a back-and-forth second set. ORU grabbed a late 19-17 lead in set two, and the Bison rattled off 5 straight points to gain a 22-19 lead. NDSU was able to hold off the Golden Eagles the rest of the way and took set two, 27-25. 

NDSU jumped out to a 14-9 lead in the third set off an Ally Barth kill. The Bison then jumped out to a 19-10 lead from a kill from Emma Tallman. Any comeback attempt from ORU proved futile as NDSU took set three, 25-17. 

Oral Roberts battled in the third set, grabbing an early 8-1 lead after a Bison service error. The Bison then went on a 15-9 run to make it a one-point game at 17-16. The Golden Eagles finished the set on an 8-5 run and took it 25-20. 

An early 6-3 lead jumpstarted the fifth set for the Bison. They then opened it up to a 12-6 lead and ended the set on a 3-0 run to win the set, 15-6 and the match, 3-2. 

The second match of the week for the Bison did not bring the same results, as NDSU was swept on Saturday in Denver. Ali Hinze once again had a team-high 13 kills and seven digs, Maddy Dombeck had 15 assists, and Logan O’Brien logged a match-high 12 digs. 

Denver opened up to a 17-12 lead in the first set off of back-to-back kills. The Pios were able to halt any sort of comeback and won the set, 25-18. Denver rode the momentum into set two for an early 14-8. A 13-11 run in favor of the Bison proved futile, as Denver locked up set two, 25-21. Denver kept on rolling into the third set, establishing a 13-5 lead early on. NDSU and Denver were even the rest of the way at 12 a piece, and that locked up the set for Denver, 25-17, and the match 3-0. 

NDSU gets right back into it as South Dakota comes to Fargo this Thursday. First serve will be 5:30 p.m. at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

This article was written by sports writer Sam Huseby.