OMAHA, Neb - Omaha was right at home Saturday, sweeping North Dakota State in Summit League women's volleyball. Two days after dropping their first conference match of the season at South Dakota State, the Mavericks dominated the Bison at Baxter Arena (25-14, 25-18, 25-13).
Mavericks junior
Kali Jurgensmeier led the match with 13 kills, a solo block and four block assists. Senior
Shayla McCormick had six kills and 14 digs, while senior
Emily Huss, this week's Summit League Peak Defensive Peak Performer of the Week, had five kills and a solo block. Freshman
Julia Owens had 21 assists and five digs, while
Ivy Leuck had 12 assists and five digs. In less than two seasons with the Mavericks, Leuck, a sophomore setter from Omaha's Skutt Catholic High School, has already passed 1,000 career assists (107 sets, 1,011 kills, 5.95 assists per set).
Omaha (6-10, 4-1) posted its third sweep in five Summit League matches, as NDSU (7-7, 3-2) was swept in conference play for the first time this year.
In the opening set, Omaha outhit NDSU 33% to 2.6%, led by Jurgensmeier with five kills, including the deciding point on a fierce right hand center cross that gave Omaha the 25-14 set win. Omaha dominated NDSU .365 to .038 in hitting percentage for the match.
NDSU briefly led in the second set, but Omaha's dominance was never in doubt. Assisted by Owens, graduate student
McKenna Ruch crushed the game two winner (25-18). Ruch finished with ten kills, two service aces and seven block assists.
The Bison made a run to start the third set before senior
Erica Fava's service ace broke a 10-10 tie and fueled an 11 point run for Omaha. The Mavericks scored 18 of the final 22 points of the set to win the final game 25-13.
Omaha has not dropped a set in Summit League matches at Baxter Arena this season. They play at Denver Thursday night before returning home for two matches against Oral Roberts (10/19) and Kansas City (10/22).
Remaining Mavericks matches are televised on the Summit League Network. Tickets are available at
OMavs.com.
