NDSU Volleyball Tops Stetson 3-1 in FAU Invitational

NDSU improves to 7-3 on the season

BOCA RATON, Fla (NDSU Athletics) – Erika Gelzinyte matched her career-high with 18 kills, while McKenzie Burke claimed 15 as North Dakota State University turned back past Stetson University 3-1 (25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 25-18) in the Florida Atlantic University Invitational played Friday, Sept. 15.

NDSU (7-3) is scheduled to play host Florida Atlantic (7-2) at 8 a.m. Central Time and Savannah State (2-5) at noon CT on Saturday, Sept. 16. FAU and Savannah play tonight.

Burke had six of her 15 kills in the fourth and deciding set to help the Bison pull away from the winless Hatters (0-11). NDSU led by as many as five, but Stetson pulled to within 19-18.

Emily Halverson, Burke and Gelzinyte each had a kill, while Stetson had an attack error to make it 23-18 and force a timeout. Brianna Rasmusson and Halverson combined for a block and Gelzinyte matched her NDSU career-high 18th kill to close out the set and the match.

The Bison outhit the Hatters .344 to .182 in the fourth set, and also held a .183 to .109 advantage overall. Rasmusson had a match-high five and Halverson added four as NDSU held a 10-7 edge in team blocks.

Rasmusson finished with 39 assists and eight digs. Gelzinyte hit .357, while Burke served up a career-high four aces. Mikaela Purnell came up with a match-high 29 digs, while Abbi Klos reached double-figures with 10.

Hao Jin led Stetson with 16 kills, while Naina Ivanova collected 34 assists and 10 digs, and Shelby Connors finished with three blocks.