BROOKINGS, S.D. -- The No. 5 University of Denver volleyball team dropped the Summit League Quarterfinal match, three sets to two (21-25, 25-15, 15-25, 25-23, 14-16) to No. 4 North Dakota State on Sunday night in Brookings, South Dakota.

Jamia Johnson recorded a career-high 18 kills, while Ava Reynolds added 16 and Genevieve Lewis notched 12. Defensively, Madison Winkler made 21 digs while Reynolds recorded 12. Johnson, Izabela Molina and Kate Perryman each added four blocks. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set 1:
Denver opened the match with back-to-back aces from Rawlings, but North Dakota State responded with a 5-0 run to take control. The Pioneers struggled to find rhythm offensively as the Bison built an 18-12 lead. Denver cut the deficit to 21-19 after a timeout, but NDSU held on to take the first set 25-21.

Set 2:
Denver answered with a strong start in the second set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead before NDSU tied it at 6-6. With Eren at the service line, the Pioneers used a 3-0 run to regain a three-point edge and later stretched the margin to 14-9. Another surge pushed Denver ahead 21-13, and Reynolds closed the set with a crosscourt kill as DU evened the match with a 25-15 win.

Set 3:
NDSU opened the third set with two early 3-0 runs to build a 7-2 lead. Reynolds delivered back-to-back kills, but the Bison maintained control throughout and extended their advantage to 17-11. NDSU used a 25-15 victory to regain the match lead.

Set 4:
The fourth set began tightly before a block by Thibodeau and Perryman gave Denver a 6-4 edge. NDSU tied it at 10-10 and later used a 4-0 run to go ahead 14-11. The Pioneers responded with a block from Perryman and Johnson to even the score, then added a 5-0 run to take a 16-14 lead. The Bison tied it again at 21-21, but a late NDSU attack error gave Denver the set, 25-23, forcing a fifth.

Set 5:
Both teams traded points early in the final set before Rawlings scored on a setter dump to put DU ahead 6-4. With Werger at the service line, the Pioneers pushed the lead to 14-10 behind a 4-0 run and a strong swing from Reynolds. NDSU answered with a 5-0 run to reach match point at 15-14 and completed the comeback with a 16-14 win to take the match.

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
 Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Volleyball on Facebook
 Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Volleyball on Twitter
 Follow @denverpioneers and @duvolleyball on Instagram