Bison Beat Mavericks in Women’s Volleyball

The NDSU women’s volleyball team won in three games Saturday against the Omaha Mavericks at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. Carissa Whalen tied her career-high with 12 kills in the win, leading the Bison in 25-12, 25-18, 25-21 wins.

The Bison have now won three straight Summit League games, improving their record to 8-12 overall and 5-4 in the league. The Omaha Mavericks fell 6-15 overall and 1-8 in the Summit League.

Whalen hit .455 with only a couple errors in 22 attacks. Teammate middle hitter Megan Lambertson hit .600 with 10 kills with only one error in 15 attacks. Bison setter Catherine Yager had 35 assists. 
Lambertson had a career high-tying four aces, and Brynn Joki had three aces. The Bison had a season-high nine service aces, and the Bison scored on eight of Omaha’s serving errors.

The Bison ran out with a 13-1 run in the first set, and then Joki gave the Bison back-to-back aces, which gave NDSU a 14-4 lead.

Joki’s six of her nine kills came during the second set. NDSU’s three of their six kills came on an 8-1 run to put the Bison ahead in the second set. In the third set the Mavericks stayed with the Bison, but Lambertson had a kill, and then back-to-back blocks from teammates Whalen and Yager. The Bison were up 22-17 and made Omaha take its final timeout.

Kelly Wollak had a team-high six kills for Omaha, the Mavericks hit a season-low .076 team hitting percentage. The Mavericks Amy Roberts had a match-high 13 digs.

Up next for the Bison are the Drake Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Monday. The Bulldogs have an overall record of 3-16 and are 2-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference.