Joki, Fassbender Power North Dakota State to Five-Set Victory Over Milwaukee

MADISON, Wis. - Brynn Joki and Jenni Fassbender combined for eight kills in the fifth set and the North Dakota State women's volleyball team held on for a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee in the first match of the Wisconsin InnTowner Invitational on Friday, Sept. 7.

Joki hit .294 with 20 kills and 17 digs - all were season-highs - as North Dakota State won 25-21, 25-21, 18-25, 21-25, 16-14.  Fassbender and Lauren Cammack each finished with 12 kills and Megan Lambertson had 10 kills and six blocks.

NDSU (2-5) was on pace to win in four sets, but the Bison blew a pair of six-point leads.  Milwaukee (4-4) scored 10 straight points to take a 22-18 lead in the fourth and closed it out with an NDSU service error and a Milwaukee ace.

The fifth set was tied six times but NDSU never trailed after coming back from a 2-0 deficit.  Fassbender broke a 14-14 tie with a kill and the Bison won on a Milwaukee attacking error.

Joki had six of her kills in the second set as the Bison hit .438 as a team with only two attacking errors.  NDSU topped that in the fifth set scoring 11 of its 16 points on kills with no errors for a .423 team percentage.

Milwaukee was nearly as good in the fifth set.  Elizabeth Egerer erupted for eight kills in 15 swings and the Panthers scored 13 of 14 points on kills.  Egerer and Julie Kolinske each finished with 22 kills for UWM.

NDSU outhit Milwaukee .263 to .223.  Setter Catherine Yager had 35 assists and Emily Riese added 17.  Libero Andrea Henning made a match-high 22 digs and the Bison outblocked the Panthers 12-5.

North Dakota State continues tournament play against Wisconsin at 12 p.m. and Drake at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8.