FARGO, N.D. – The Omaha volleyball team fought back from a 2-1 deficit to capture a five-set victory (25-21, 18-25, 17-25, 25-21, 15-12) at North Dakota State on Friday night in Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
 
The Mavericks are now 10-5 (9-4 Summit League) on the season while the Bison fall to 8-5 (6-5).
 
Leaders for Omaha
Sadie Limback tied her career-high set earlier this season with 25 kills while hitting .533. Alexa Blase tied her season-high with 14 kills and Anna Blaschko chipped in 13 kills. McKenna Ruch totaled 10 kills with seven digs.
 
Sami Clarkson posted a double-double with a career-high 60 assists and 11 digs. Claire Mountjoy recorded a team-high 21 digs, followed by 17 digs from Jordan Stalpes.
 
Leaders for NDSU
Ali Hinze collected a double-double with 17 kills and 16 digs to lead the Bison. Syra Tanchin added 12 kills, followed by eight kills from Kirstin Tidd and Allie Mauch.
 
Kelley Johnson tallied 43 assists and Taylor Quan and Kaylee Hanger recorded 18 and 12 digs, respectively.
 
Team Stats
Omaha hit .267 to NDSU's .216. The Mavericks totaled 74 kills with 77 digs and a service ace and edged North Dakota State in blocks, 8-7. NDSU had 56 kills, 78 digs and eight service aces.
 
Inside the First Set
The Mavericks held a 15-8 lead over the Bison before a 4-0 run by NDSU made it a 15-12 set. The two teams traded points to a 20-17 lead for Omaha until three straight points by the Mavericks stretched the Omaha lead to 23-17. A kill by Rylee Marshall clinched the 25-21 first-set victory for Omaha.
 
Inside the Second Set
North Dakota State went on a 4-0 run after being tied up at six to grow a 10-6 lead. The Bison held off any chance of the Mavericks cutting into the lead after an ace by Hinze gave NDSU the 18-11 advantage. A kill by Blase and an NDSU error got Omaha within 21-17 but the Bison scored four of the next five points to post the 25-18 victory.
 
Inside the Third Set
The Bison held onto a 16-13 lead and scored back-to-back points to grab the 18-13 advantage over Omaha. An NDSU error and Limback's kill made it 18-15 until three straight points by NDSU expanded the Bison lead to 21-15. The Bison held off Omaha for the 25-17 win in the third set.
 
Inside the Fourth Set
Back-to-back kills by Blaschko made it a 5-2 start for Omaha and another back-to-back effort by the senior gave the Mavericks a quick 8-2 lead. Omaha led by 11-3 until NDSU fought back to make it a 13-12 game after a kill by Allie Mauch. Two straight kills by Limback made it a 15-12 lead for the Mavericks.
 
A pair of kills by Blase gave Omaha its 23^rd and 24^th points of the set until a ball handling error led the Mavericks to a 25-21 victory, forcing a fifth set.
 
Inside the Fifth Set
Two straight kills by Limback and Ruch had the Mavericks out in front, 5-2. Tied at 10, Blase and Limback teamed up for two consecutive kills to give Omaha the 12-10 lead late in the set. The Bison got within 13-12 until a kill by Marshall and an attack error on the Bison clinched the fifth-set victory for the Mavericks.
 
What's Next
The Mavericks and Bison wrap up the weekend series tomorrow evening with first serve at 5 p.m. in Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.