Box Score Boxscore (PDF/HTML)
FARGO, N.D. – The UNO volleyball team capped its 2011 season on Saturday night, falling 3-0 (11-25, 18-25, 19-25) to future Summit League foe North Dakota at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. With the loss, the Mavericks finish their first year transitioning to Division I with a record of 5-23, while NDSU improves to 20-8.
Junior outside hitter
Natalie Ebke finished with a team-leading 10 kills, while junior middle blocker
Lizzy Mach had seven. Senior setter
Emily Myers ended her career with a 21-assist performance, and senior libero
Angie Reicks had a team-best 19 digs. Senior middle blocker
Brittany Hanssen was one of four Mavs to tally a block for the night, along with three kills of her own.
As a team, Nebraska Omaha hit .071 to North Dakota State's .302 mark. The Bison also had 11 total team blocks to the Mavs' three.
NDSU had two players finish with double-figure kill efforts – Brynn Joki (11) and Chrissy Knuth (10). Setter Jennifer Lopez had 35 assists and 11 digs for a double-double, while Andrea Henning had a match-high 20 digs.
North Dakota State came out swinging to open the match, hitting .519 as a team with no attack errors. Helped by three early kills by Megan Lambertson, the Bison took a 12-3 lead, then took it out to 21-9. Two more kills by Knuth and Carissa Whalen made it 24-11 for game point, and a Lopez ace finished it off at 25-11.
Knuth starred for NDSU in game two, notching six kills on .455 hitting. Eight Bison hitting errors allowed the Mavericks to take a 12-9 lead, but North Dakota State managed seven straight unanswered points to regain a 16-12 advantage. NDSU then stretched it to 23-17, and Knuth's final kill gave the Bison the 25-18 win.
In the final set, the Mavericks kept it tied at 9-9, but five straight NDSU scores made it 14-9. Ebke responded with back-to-back kills to bring the Mavs within three, but North Dakota State maintained a consistent five-point lead until 20-16 when Myers put down a quick kill. Ebke – who finished with seven kills in the set -- had UNO's last kill at 23-18, but the home squad held on to take a 25-19 win and the match sweep.
