FARGO, ND - With a showdown for the Summit League lead on the horizon, the Omaha Mavericks (11-10, 9-1) were able to stay focused at North Dakota State (9-10, 5-5), downing the Bison in four sets, 25-20, 24-26, 25-16, 25-16.
The Mavericks were led by
Kali Jurgensmeier's stellar performance, as the junior delivered 18 kills without an error, hitting .720. Omaha outhit NDSU .330 to .127.
With their sixth straight conference win, the Mavericks next host undefeated South Dakota State (RV) on Halloween at Baxter Arena (10/31, 7 p.m., Summit League Network). Omaha's lone loss in conference play this season came in straight sets at SDSU (October 10). Coach
Matt Buttermore's squad returns to Baxter Arena where they are 6-0 in Summit League play and have won 15 of 16 conference sets this season.
The Mavericks were all business early in the match, building a 16-9 lead on consecutive kills by sophomore
Amanda Hardt (10 kills, 4 digs, 1 block), senior
Shayla McCormick (6 kills, 11 digs) and Jurgensmeier, all assisted by sophomore
Ivy Leuck (26 assists and 2 digs). An NDSU rally cut the lead to 21-19 before the Mavericks closed out the 25-20 set on an a pair of aces by senior
Erica Fava (2 aces, 8 digs) and a Jurgensmeier kill.
The Bison reeled off seven straight points in the second set, building on their first lead of the match at 9-6. After holding off two set points, the Bison rallied late for the 26-24 set win.
The Mavericks took command of the third set on a five point run, keyed by grad student
McKenna Ruch (8 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs) and sophomore
Emily Huss (3 kills, 5 blocks), to give the Mavericks a 9-3 set lead they would not relinquish. The set highlight came on an amazing dig by Hardt and the kill by Jurgensmeier that extended their late lead en route to the 25-16 third set win.
The fourth set was a dominant clincher for the Mavericks, twice reeling off six point runs as they took a 16-4 lead on the way to the 25-16 set win.
Tickets are available now for the Mavericks' return to Baxter Arena on Halloween (Oct. 31 against South Dakota State to Omaha at 7 p.m. CT. at
OMavs.com/Tix.
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