OMAHA, Neb. – No. 2 seed and host Omaha outlasted No. 3 seed North Dakota State 3-1 to win Friday's second semifinal of the 2022 Summit League Volleyball Championship at Baxter Arena. With the win, the Mavericks advance to the title match for the second straight season where they will face South Dakota in a rematch of last year’s title match.
In the first set, North Dakota State had five Bison record at least one kill as they picked up 12 total kills in the opening frame. Behind there .226 hitting percentage, NDSU posted the 25-19 win to take the 1-0 lead over the Mavericks.
In the second set, Omaha scored five straight points to make it a 12-6 contest and never looked back, as they only committed one service error. NDSU’s Ali Hinze posted a set-high nine kills for a .353 hitting percentage, but Omaha’s defense prevailed as the Mavericks posted four key blocks, including Mariah Murdie’s block to stretch the lead during their five straight points.
The third set saw All-League first teamer Shayla McCormick pick up five kills and six digs while Murdie’s two blocks was the difference maker for a defensive unit that held the Bison to a .089 hitting percentage.
The fourth set was a thrilling one, as both squads went back-and-forth with four lead changes more than halfway through the set. After the tournament hosts went up 22-19, NDSU scored three straight points to make it 22-22. Both teams traded points for the next six points and the Mavericks clinched the match with the final two points by on an attack error and an Olivia Curry’s service ace secured a spot in the title match.
Who Stood Out
- Omaha’s McCormick registered a team-high 12 kills and added 17 digs to post her 18th double-double of the season and fourth straight.
- Marriah Buss added 12 kills of her own to register a team-high .226 hitting percentage.
- NDSU’s Hinze paced the Bison with 14 kills and added nine digs
- Setter of the Year Kelley Johnson of NDSU was lights out tonight, tallying 41 assists on 13 digs, good enough for her 22nd double-double of the season
- Omaha’s McKenna Ruch totaled three blocks and has now registered three of more blocks in a match 22 times this season
Turning Point
- Omaha’s eight blocks in the second set was all they needed to complete the comeback after being behind at the end of set one. Murdie’s three blocks and Freshman of the Year Kali Jurgensmeier’s two blocks propelled the Mavericks to a second set victory.
Notable
- Omaha will be making its second consecutive appearance in the title match and fourth in the past eight years that made the title match.
- This marks the first time in eight years that the same two teams are in the championship match in back in back-to-back seasons as Denver and IUPUI played against each other in 2013 and 2014.
- This marks the third time overall Omaha and South Dakota will play in the Summit League Championships.
Up Next
No. 2 Omaha will meet No. 1 South Dakota in a rematch of last year’s title match Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.
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