2022 NIVC -- Rounds 1-2, Wave 1 (Dec. 2)

DAVIDSON 3, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 2 (23-25, 25-18, 12-25, 25-23, 15-13)
 
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Davidson came back from multiple deficits on Friday, then had all the answers in a competitive fifth set in taking down North Dakota State in Round 1 of the 2022 NIVC.
 
The Wildcats (21-10), who reached 20 victories for the first time in two decades, took 3-0 and 7-4 leads in the final set, with Buffalo (21-12) tying it at 9-all. A kill from Isabel Decker made it 14-12 for Davidson, and the match ended on a kill from Kayla Davis. Davidson, having earned its first-ever postseason victory, will play Wake Forest in Round 2.
 
The Wildcats now have four players who have topped 200 kills on the season. Davis and Decker each had 12 kills Friday, as did Jackie Bardin. Xuan Nguyen closed with 23 assists and Bella Brady had 20 digs and three aces.
 
North Dakota State got 18 kills from Ali Hinze and 15 kills by Syra Tanchin. Kelley Johnson, who entered the postseason ranked No. 8 in NCAA D-I in total assists, had 48 on Friday. Logan O’Brien closed with 21 digs.
 
BOSTON COLLEGE 3, BUFFALO 0 (25-18, 25-17, 27-25)
 
NEWTON, Mass. – Boston College hit just below .400 in winning the first two sets, taking control before taking down Buffalo in Round 1 of the 2022 NIVC.
 
The Eagles (20-13), who hit .366 overall, will play St. John’s in Round 2. Katrina Jensen had 11 kills and Izzy Clavenna added 10 kills – Grace Penn had 22 assists and Sophia Lambros added 21 assists.
 
The Bulls (19-14) got 10 kills each from Emma Gileas and Courtney Okwara, with 29 assists coming from Mandy Leigh.
 
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 3, LOUISIANA 2 (25-19, 19-25, 23-25, 25-20, 16-14)
 
EDINBURG, Texas – South Dakota State came back from a 2-1 deficit to drive past Louisiana and into Round 2 of the 2022 NIVC.
 
The Jackrabbits (18-14), who went 7-0 in their seven matches ahead of the Summit Conference tournament, took an early lead in the fifth set, but the Ragin’ Cajuns (15-13) tied it at 13-all on a kill from Celeste Darling. Service errors gave SDSU a leg up in the final moments, and the match was secured on a kill from Masa Scheierman.
 
Crystal Burk, who entered the postseason ranked No. 5 in the nation with 553 kills, had 25 kills and 12 digs for the Jackrabbits. Scheierman added 18 kills; Raegen Reilly came through with 53 assists and 16 digs, while Jadyn Makovicka also had 16 digs.
 
Louisiana got 14 kills and 20 digs from Coco Gillett, 12 more kills from Darling and 10 kills from Kara Barnes. Reka Koterman added 32 assists and Paige Guidry had 19 digs.
 
SOUTHERN MISS 3, UT MARTIN 0 (25-4, 28-26, 25-21)
 
TROY, Ala. – Southern Miss stormed into the quarterfinals of the 2022 NIVC with a straight-sets win over UT Martin.
 
The Golden Eagles (20-11) got 14 kills apiece from Cara Atkinson and Cailin Demps, with 37 assists coming off the hands of Kenzie Smith. Megan Harris added 27 digs.
 
The Skyhawks (23-12) were paced by seven kills from Karen Scanlon. Dylan Mott had 14 digs.
 
XAVIER 3, OHIO 1 (15-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20)
 
ATHENS, Ohio – Xavier stumbled out of the gate Friday but found its footing the rest of the way, moving past host Ohio and into the quarterfinals of the 2022 NIVC.
 
The Musketeers (21-11) took charge behind Brooklyn Cink, how had 13 kills and 15 digs. Maryann O’Toole added 11 kills and Delaney Hogan chipped in with 10 kills; Carrigan O’Reilly had 41 assists and Lucia Corsaro added 16 digs.
 
The Bobcats (20-12) saw Kristy Frank ring up 13 kills and Anna Kharchynska add 10 kills. Chariti Winzeler and Tria McLean each registered 22 assists, and Sam Steele closed with 17 digs.
 
ST. JOHN’S 3, BINGHAMTON 0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-16)
 
NEWTON, Mass. – St. John’s hit a scorching .459 over three sets, sweeping past Binghamton and into Round 2 of the 2022 NIVC.
 
Three players had 10 kills for the Red Storm (20-13) – Giorgia Walther, Lucrezia Lodi and Rachele Rastelli. Wiktoria Kowalczyk had 24 assists as St. John’s hit .560 in the final set – they’ll take on Boston College in Round 2.
 
Binghamton (17-9) got nine kills each from Tsvetelina Ilieva and Anna Sprys. Jessie Bilello had 25 assists and Giulia Bonifacio added 10 digs.