CLEMSON, S.C. – Troy and defending Big Sky champion North Dakota battled in a five-set nail-biter, but the Fighting Hawks came out on top with a 3-2 victory in the first match of the Big Orange Bash at the Jervey Athleltic Center.
The Hawks (5-3) jumped out 7-2 in the deciding fifth set and staved off a late Trojan (4-3) rally to seal the match. Troy strung together a three-point and four-point rally to cut things close before falling 15-12.
Cheyenne Hayes and Belle Waldrop each eclipsed the 20-kill mark in the game with 21 and 20, respectively.