The Basics
Score: No. 4 North Dakota State 3, No. 5 Denver 2
Records: North Dakota State (17-10, 11-6 SL), Denver (17-11, 9-8 SL),
Location: First Bank & Trust Arena – Brookings, S.D.

BROOKINGS, S.D. – No. 4 seed North Dakota State ousted No. 5 seed Denver, posting a tightly contested, five-set victory over the Pioneers in the second quarterfinal of the 2025 Summit League Volleyball Championship at First Bank & Trust Arena in Brookings, S.D.
 
Each of the Bisons' three set wins came in a different fashion, culminating in a fifth-set rally that saw the Bison score six unanswered points after being down 14-10. NDSU won the first set 25-21 and dominated the third set, posting a 25-15 win. 
 
Who Stood Out
NDSU saw four reach double digits in the kills column led by senior Baily Randall, who put away a team-best 17 kills and added eight digs. All-Summit League first teamer Lauren Jansen contributed 11 kills and 14 digs while Zoe John and Ally Barth chipped in 13 and 11 kills, respectively. 
 
For the Bison, Maddy Dombeck and Rya Borer dished out 27 assists each while defensively Rya Borer tallied a team-best 17 digs.
 
Denver was led by Jamia Johnson’s 18 kills and .459 hitting percentage. Ava Reynolds followed notching a double-double with 16 kills and 12 digs. Defensively, Madison Winkler led the Pioneers with 21 digs. Pioneer setters Izzy Rawlings and Ilayda Eren finished the match with 27 assists each. 
 
After North Dakota State opened the match with a first-set victory, Denver responded with authority, dominating the second set 25–15 to even the score at 1-1. The Bison answered right back, reclaiming the momentum by registering their own 10-point triumph in the third set.
 
The fourth set turned into a tight back-and-forth battle with neither team led by more than three. NDSU led 14–11 midway through before Denver surged late and escaped with a 25–23 win to force the decisive fifth set.

In the final frame, the teams again traded leads before Denver took control and eventually forced its first match point at 14–10. The Bison did not give in, rattling off six straight points to stun the Pioneers and secure their spot in tomorrow’s semifinal matchup against South Dakota State.

Turning Point
With the Bison facing match point, they staved off their first one thanks to a DU attack error, then Maddy Dombeck stepped to the service line and reeled off five straight points. The NDSU setter capped the match-clinching surge with a service ace to keep her squad alive in the postseason.
 
Notable

• The Pioneers failed to reach the semifinals for just the second time in their 12 Summit League Tournament appearances.
• NDSU returns to the semifinals for the first time since 2023 and avenged a 3-1 loss to the Pioneers in last year's quarterfinals played in Kansas City. 
• In the fourth set, there were 10 tied scores and three lead changes between the two, while the five-set match saw a total of 18 tied scores and 18 lead changes.
• Jansen recorded her sixth double-double of the season for the Bison, finishing with 11 kills and 14 digs

Up Next
NDSU will meet No. 1 seed and tournament host South Dakota State at 6 p.m. CT Monday in the second semifinal match of the day.
 
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