POCATELLO, Idaho-- Host Idaho State remained atop the Big Sky Conference with a 3-1 (27-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-19) win over North Dakota Saturday night. ISU and Portland State are the two lone unbeatens in conference play remaining.
"We just make too many mistakes to win consistently on the road right now," said UND head coach Ashley Hardee. "Having set-point in the first not finishing it is difficult to overcome."
UND (6-8, 2-2 BSC) led 22-19 in the first set before ISU (10-3, 4-0) rattled-off five straight points to wrestle away control. North Dakota was able to rebound to grab a 25-24 advantage serving for set-point, but three consecutive UND attack errors gave the home team the first set.
The Bengals, the top hitting team in the Big Sky heading into the week, led the entire second set to grab a two-sets-to-none advantage. North Dakota did not relent, however, using a quick 3-0 start to ignite a third set lead. UND would secure the set on a kill from Felicia Ulrich (25-21).
A back-and-forth final set went in favor of the host Bengals after an 8-3 run capped the fourth frame and ISU remained one of just two unbeatens in the 11-team Big Sky.
UND was led by 14 kills from sophomore Lexi Robinson with junior Ronni Munkeby adding 13 kills and eight block assists. ISU's Alydia Fields led all players with 19 kills and Tressa Lyman chipped-in a dozen kills and 14 digs.
UND returns home next week to face Sacramento State Saturday, Sept. 29 followed by a televised match with defending-Big Sky champion Northern Colorado on Mon., Oct. 1.
