LAWTON, Okla. -- Northeastern State rallied from a two-set deficit to force a fifth for the first time in program history Saturday, but Minot State answered in the deciding set to defeat the RiverHawks 3-2, 25-19, 25-18, 14-25, 21-25, 15-5.
Northeastern State (0-7) found its rhythm in the third set, hitting .256 with 16 kills and six errors on 39 attacks. The RiverHawks jumped out to an early lead and never trailed after taking a 5-1 advantage, eventually cutting Minot State's match lead to 2-1.
The RiverHawks carried that momentum into the fourth set, overcoming an early deficit and taking control with a 9-1 run that turned a 13-8 Minot State lead into a 16-13 NSU advantage. Northeastern State closed out the set 25-21 to force the decisive fifth set.
Poliana Lazarini led the RiverHawks with a season-best 15 kills. She added eight digs, one service ace and a block assist.
Sydney Dunkleberger finished with 23 assists and 12 digs, while
Tiyana Bhatte contributed 14 assists and 10 digs.
Brooke Tyler added 11 digs, and Lazarini and Bhatte helped NSU finish with 62 digs as a team.
The RiverHawks struggled to maintain their offensive momentum in the fifth set, hitting minus-.125 with one kill and three errors on 16 attacks. Minot State hit .556 in the final frame, recording 10 kills without an attack error.
Minot State finished with a .164 hitting percentage and 52 kills, compared with 44 kills and a .083 hitting percentage for Northeastern State.
The loss ended a spirited comeback for the RiverHawks, who turned a two-set deficit into a fifth-set battle before Minot State pulled away.
Northeastern State closes out its weekend in Lawton at 5 p.m. Saturday when the RiverHawks face host Cameron.
