Box score
OGDEN, Utah-- A dominating fifth and deciding set helped visiting North Dakota secure a 23-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-23, 15-8 win over Weber State Thursday night in Big Sky Conference play. UND, which was down two sets to one, rallied to post a close win in the fourth set and then scored six straight points during one stretch of the deciding set to snatch the victory.
"We showed a lot of character tonight coming from behind on the road," UND head coach Ashley Hardee said. "Our young players are growing up quickly but we still have some work to do."
That come-from-behind effort came after an intense first four sets that were all decided by the minimum two points. Host WSU (6-8, 0-3 Big Sky) was able to grab the first set but UND had the equalizer in set two. UND had to fend off two set-points before a solo block by sophomore Lexi Robinson gave North Dakota a 28-26 victory to knot the match through two sets.
Neither squad led by more than three points in the third set and the Wildcats eeked out a 25-23 third-set win to gain control of the match. UND again had the counter, as junior Lisa Parlich's kill-- one of her 14 on the night-- polished-off the 25-23 win for the visitors to send it to a fifth set.
With UND clinging to a slim 4-3 edge in the final set, North Dakota would score six straight points to lead 10-3. It marked the largest lead by either team all night in a tightly-contested match and UND closed it out for a 15-8 victory and its first road win in conference play.
UND (6-7, 2-1 Big Sky) had a balanced offensive attack that featured five players with at least nine kills. Junior Ronni Munkeby led the way with 17 finishes while sophomore Nikki Husfeldt registered a new career best with 64 assists. Robinson had 16 kills and 10 digs while Parlich added 14 kills and seven total blocks. Felicia Ulrich chipped-in a dozen kills and Ellen Krueger added nine for UND.
WSU's Rebecca Fuchs led the Wildcats with 18 kills. Briana Wilms had 13 kills and Piper Wahlin tallied 12 for the home team.
UND continues its road trip Saturday night when it heads to Pocatello, Idaho to battle Idaho State. The match is slated for an 8:00 p.m. Central start.
