NDSU beats out Omaha in Summit League opener

The NDSU Bison volleyball team won their first Summit League game against the Omaha Mavericks at the Sapp Fieldhouse in convincing fashion. The Bison swept the Mavericks in a much needed win after starting their season 3-7. The Bison got a huge spark from senior outside hitter Brynn Joki, who ended the day with 17 kills and 15 digs.

The Mavericks gave the Bison a run for their money, especially in the first match. It was a nail-bitter to the end, and proved vital for the Bison to keep momentum through the whole game. The first game nearly went to UNO when the game was at a match point twice, but the Bison stayed persistent and got the first win. The game was capped off by a Joki kill and three UNO errors which ended the game at 26-24.

The second game proved to be easier for NDSU. After UNO started with a 6-2 start, NDSU went on an 11-0 run. This game was a team effort for the Bison, as many players made big contributions for their team. The main facilitator for these players was senior setter Catherine Yager, who put up 31 assists for the match. The second set ended in a blow out, with the final score being 25-15 in favor of the Bison.

The third set was more tightly contested. It was a 10-10 tie after Omaha hit three straight service aces, and the Bison went down by four points right after. The Bison then answered with eight of the next nine points and never looked back. NDSU beat UNO in the third match 25-20.

NDSU have two games at home this week against conference rivals Western Illinois and IUPUI at home this coming week. The Bison currently sit at 4-7 with a 1-0 record within the Summit League.