This week                                                                                                                         

The North Dakota State volleyball team (6-3) has won its last four matches and continues its road swing at the Portland State Tournament in Portland, Oregon this weekend. The Bison will begin play against Portland State (3-5) Friday at 9:00 p.m. CT before wrapping up the trip Saturday against Gonzaga (3-6) at 1:00 p.m. CT and Portland State at 9:00 p.m. CT

Handling business

on the west coast

The Bison went 3-0 at the Cal Tournament in Berkeley, California last weekend. NDSU opened play rolling past Butler 3-1 and closed the first day of action winning the final three sets against California to secure a 3-1 win. It marked the first victory over a power five opponent since 2010. NDSU then closed the trip earning a 3-1 win over Nevada. Following the tournament, Syra Tanchin and Kaylee Hanger were named to the All-Tournament team, while Michelle Glover was tabbed the Most Valuable Player.

Summit League Defensive Player

of the Week

Michelle Glover was named TicketSmarter Summit League Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday. Glover contributed a team-high 15 total blocks and averaged 1.25 blocks per set. On the offensive side, she added in 34 total kills to go along with a .433 hitting percentage. 

The Wheaton, Illinois native registered a season-high 12 kills and .455 hitting percentage in the win over California and closed the weekend matching a season-best 12 kills with seven total blocks in the win over Nevada. She has posted at least three blocks in seven matches this season and currently ranks second in the Summit League in total blocks with 39.

Four straight

The Bison have won their last four straight matches, which is the longest streak since NDSU assembled a four-match win streak last season from Feb. 7 against South Dakota State to Feb.15 against Oral Roberts. 

A dynamic duo

Ali Hinze and Syra Tanchin have each connected on 111 total kills this season, which ranks second in the Summit League. NDSU is the only team in the Summit League to have two different players surpass the 100-kill mark this season.

Speaking of defense

The Bison have battled on the defensive side of the court this season, logging six matches with 50 or more digs including their last four straight. 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.

On a hot streak

Ali Hinze has posted three straight double-doubles heading into the weekend. It matches the longest double-double streak of her career after assembling three straight last season from Feb. 21 at South Dakota to March 5 against Western Illinois. Hinze has posted a team-best five doubles this season and 14 total in her career.

Directing traffic

Raegen Reilly has distributed a team-high 286 assists this season and is averaging 8.94 per set. She’s passed out 40 or more assists in her last three matches and posted her first career double-double with 44 assists and season-high 10 digs in the win over Nevada.

Tanchin hits 500

Syra Tanchin has connected on 111 total kills and is averaging 3.17 per set. She has reached double figures in kills six times this season, including her last three matches. Tanchin has now pushed her career total up to 503 career kills over three seasons.

Hanger keeps climbing

Kaylee Hanger has reached double digits in digs in her last four matches, including a season-high 20 in the win over Nevada to increase her career total to 888. She moved up two spots on the NDSU all-time digs list and currently ranks 31st.

The series vs. Portland State

Portland State and North Dakota State are set to meet for the 13th time in a series that dates back to 1983.  In their most recent meeting in 2006, the Bison fell short against the Vikings 3-1 at the Washington Husky Classic. The two teams have also met three times (1983, 1984, 1991) in the NCAA Division II postseason, including an encounter in the 1991 NCAA Elite Eight when Portland State edged NDSU 3-1. The Vikings lead the all-time series 8-4.

The series

vs. Gonzaga

This will mark the fourth all-time meeting between NDSU and Gonzaga with the Bison holding a 3-0 edge in the series that dates back to 2006. In the most recent meeting in 2008, NDSU edged Gonzaga 3-2 at the University of Montana Tournament.

Looking ahead

NDSU will open its home schedule and begin Summit League play hosting Kansas City Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.