THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State volleyball team (6-6) is set to open its home schedule and Summit League play this week. The Bison begin the week hosting Kansas City (9-3) on Thursday at 7:00 p.m., before closing the week against Oral Roberts (6-3) on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
FINALLY HOME
After playing its first 12 matches of the season on the road, NDSU will open the home portion of the schedule against Kansas City. Dating back to 2017, the Bison are 3-1 in home openers under head coach Jennifer Lopez. Last season, NDSU rolled past North Dakota, 3-1, in a non-conference contest.
READY FOR SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAY
The Bison are also set to begin Summit League play this week hosting Kansas City. Last season, NDSU finished fifth in the Summit League with a 10-8 (8-8 Summit) overall record. The Bison fell short against on the road at Kansas City to open Summit League play last season, 3-2.
LOOKING BACK AT LAST WEEKEND
NDSU wrapped up its non-conference schedule at the Portland State Tournament in Portland, Ore., last weekend. The Bison fell short against Portland State, 3-0, on the opening day of the tournament. NDSU closed the trip falling to Gonzaga, 3-0, and Portland State, 3-2, on the final day of action.
A DYNAMIC DUO
Ali Hinze ranks third in the Summit League in total kills with 149, while Syra Tanchin is positioned fourth with 145 kills. North Dakota State is the only team in the Summit League to have two players slotted inside the top five in total kills.
SPEAKING OF DEFENSE
The Bison have battled on the defensive side of the court this season logging seven matches with 50 or more digs. NDSU registered a season-best 74 digs in the win over Nevada and four Bison reached double digits with Kaylee Hanger setting the standard with a season-best 20 digs.
DIRECTING TRAFFIC
Raegen Reilly has distributed a team-high 312 assists this season, which ranks fifth in the Summit League. She’s passed out 40 or more assists in four matches this season, including a season-high 51 in the win at Green Bay on Aug. 27.
HANGER KEEPS CLIMBING
Kaylee Hanger has reached double digits in digs in seven matches this season and pushed her career total to 926 over four seasons, which ranks 28th in Bison history.
THE SERIES VS. KANSAS CITY
This will be the 21st all-time meeting in a series that dates back to 1982. NDSU leads the all-time series, 17-3. In their most recent meeting last year, the Roos swept the Bison, 3-0. Ali Hinze paced NDSU with a team-high 13 kills, while Taylor Quan chipped in 15 digs.
THE SERIES VS. ORAL ROBERTS
This will mark the 32nd all-time meeting between NDSU and Oral Roberts dating back to 1982 with the Bison leading the all-time series, 21-10. Last season, NDSU swept Oral Roberts in back-to-back matches at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
The Bison won the first match, 3-2, after Ali Hinze logged a double-double with a career-high 24 kills and 13 digs. NDSU then came back the following day and pulled off another thrilling 3-2 win over Oral Roberts after Hinze notched 19 kills and nine digs.
*Courtesy Myles Johnson, NDSU Athletics
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