
Photo by: Dani Gariglio
Survive and Advance! 'Cats Beat NDSU in NIVC First Round, 3-2
12/2/2022 5:49:00 PM | Volleyball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – With a come-from-behind effort, the Davidson volleyball team defeated North Dakota State in five sets on Friday afternoon in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship's first round.
The victory serves as the first postseason win in program history, and the Wildcats' 21st win of the 2022 season.
Davidson fell behind 2-1 in the NIVC's first round thriller, before holding the Bison to a match-low .296 attacking percentage in set four to scratch out the 25-23 win. Later, the 'Cats held onto their momentum and swung a solid .318 in the fifth to secure the match victory.
Jackie Bardin, Kayla Davis and Isabel Decker all paced the Davidson offense with 12 kills apiece, while Davis led the way swinging at a .429 clip. Xuan Nguyen (23) and Jessie Doyal (17) combined for 40 assists and Bella Brady anchored the defense with 20 digs.
The 'Cats jumped out strong early on Friday, taking a 10-4 lead thanks to kills from Decker and Davis. However, the Bison bounced back on a 15-8 run to regain the lead, 19-18, and eventually win the set, 25-23, after swinging .276 and holding the 'Cats to a .105 attacking percentage.
Davidson regained control in the second set, taking a 15-10 lead after swinging .500 through the first half of the frame. The 'Cats pulled ahead by as many as seven, 21-13, before NDSU punched back with three straight points to cut the deficit to four. Despite inching closer, the Wildcats shut down any threat with a pair of aces from Brady and one from Sola Omonije, on set point, to win the second 25-18 and settle the match at 1-1.
North Dakota State swung the momentum in its favor in set three, springing to a 3-0 lead at the start and later rattling off an 8-0 run to pull ahead, 16-9. Doyal ended the run with a dump kill, but the Bison hit a match-best .370 in the third to secure the 25-12 victory.
Davidson's block solidified the set four battle, as the 'Cats produced 10 block assists and one solo stuff en route to the match-tying win. After a back-and-forth battle, Bardin crushed a ball on the outside for set-point, right before Anna Withee and Omonije combined for a block on the right side to force the fifth set.
In the deciding frame, the 'Cats led the Bison by three points twice, and trailed 9-8 after a kill from NDSU's Kelley Johnson. Finally, a Decker kill put Davidson at match point, 14-12, before Davis and Nguyen connected for the final kill that handed the Wildcats their first postseason victory ever.
Off the bench, Withee provided Davidson six total blocks as the 'Cats ended the day with 12 blocks and nine service aces as a team.
Up Next
Davidson will face the winner of Coppin State and Wake Forest, on Saturday at 4 p.m., from inside Reynolds Gymnasium.
The victory serves as the first postseason win in program history, and the Wildcats' 21st win of the 2022 season.
Davidson fell behind 2-1 in the NIVC's first round thriller, before holding the Bison to a match-low .296 attacking percentage in set four to scratch out the 25-23 win. Later, the 'Cats held onto their momentum and swung a solid .318 in the fifth to secure the match victory.
Jackie Bardin, Kayla Davis and Isabel Decker all paced the Davidson offense with 12 kills apiece, while Davis led the way swinging at a .429 clip. Xuan Nguyen (23) and Jessie Doyal (17) combined for 40 assists and Bella Brady anchored the defense with 20 digs.
The 'Cats jumped out strong early on Friday, taking a 10-4 lead thanks to kills from Decker and Davis. However, the Bison bounced back on a 15-8 run to regain the lead, 19-18, and eventually win the set, 25-23, after swinging .276 and holding the 'Cats to a .105 attacking percentage.
Davidson regained control in the second set, taking a 15-10 lead after swinging .500 through the first half of the frame. The 'Cats pulled ahead by as many as seven, 21-13, before NDSU punched back with three straight points to cut the deficit to four. Despite inching closer, the Wildcats shut down any threat with a pair of aces from Brady and one from Sola Omonije, on set point, to win the second 25-18 and settle the match at 1-1.
North Dakota State swung the momentum in its favor in set three, springing to a 3-0 lead at the start and later rattling off an 8-0 run to pull ahead, 16-9. Doyal ended the run with a dump kill, but the Bison hit a match-best .370 in the third to secure the 25-12 victory.
Davidson's block solidified the set four battle, as the 'Cats produced 10 block assists and one solo stuff en route to the match-tying win. After a back-and-forth battle, Bardin crushed a ball on the outside for set-point, right before Anna Withee and Omonije combined for a block on the right side to force the fifth set.
In the deciding frame, the 'Cats led the Bison by three points twice, and trailed 9-8 after a kill from NDSU's Kelley Johnson. Finally, a Decker kill put Davidson at match point, 14-12, before Davis and Nguyen connected for the final kill that handed the Wildcats their first postseason victory ever.
Off the bench, Withee provided Davidson six total blocks as the 'Cats ended the day with 12 blocks and nine service aces as a team.
Up Next
Davidson will face the winner of Coppin State and Wake Forest, on Saturday at 4 p.m., from inside Reynolds Gymnasium.
First postseason win in program history??
— Davidson Volleyball (@DavidsonVB) December 2, 2022
FIRST POSTSEASON WIN IN PROGRAM HISTORY??#CatsWin pic.twitter.com/Qs3y9IfrYz
Team Stats
DC
NDSU
Kills
55
60
Errors
28
26
Attempts
162
153
Hitting %
.167
.222
Points
76
77
Assists
49
55
Aces
9
5
Blocks
12
12
Game Leaders
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