Ronni Munkeby is beginning her final season at UND with big numbers.

The senior co-captain posted 26 kills last weekend as the UND women’s volleyball team continued its success in a 3-1 victory against Montana State and a 3-0 sweep over Montana, continuing a perfect record in the Big Sky Conference Friday and Saturday.

“This group has shown a lot of composure and focus in the last couple of weeks,” UND coach Ashley Hardee said. “It’s really good to see this early in conference play.”

UND opened the match Friday with an easy 25-12 victory of the first set. Despite falling behind in the second set, 8-3, the Green and White rallied back to tie the score 9-9 and climbed to a 25-22 win.

It was the Bobcats’ turn to claim the advantage in the third set, thanks to Kennedy Clute, who posted 28 kills and took home the final point of the frame.

Munkeby, Lisa Parlich, Lexi Robinson and Ellen Krueger all posted kills for UND in the fourth set, taking an early 11-4 lead and came out on top, 25-14, hitting .407 and fighting off the Bobcats’ persistence.

“It was good to get a win on the road to start conference play,” Hardee said. “Except for a little stretch in the third set, we were able to sideout very efficiently.”

With 13 kills, Munkeby led UND’s offense while Robinson contributed 11 kills and five digs. Junior Nikki Husfeldt posted 37 assists, eight digs, six kills and four blocks. Krueger also aided with five kills, six assists and eight digs.

Saturday’s victories came in a similar fashion — Munkeby posting double-digit kills, and the Green and White claiming the advantage.

Despite a 16-11 deficit in the first set, North Dakota rallied back to claim the set 25-20 with the help of sophomore Lauren Clark, who served the final five points and contributed two service aces.

The Grizzlies came back strong in the second set, forcing nine tie scores and three lead changes. Neither team could hold the lead for more than two points, until UND claimed a 15-11 advantage to force a timeout.

Montana kept fighting for a victory and rallied back to tie the score twice, but Munkeby’s kill and a Grizzly error broke the 23-23 tie and gave North Dakota the advantage going into the third set.

Krueger and Robinson joined Munkeby in posting four kills in the final set to propel UND to a 28-25 victory and a weekend sweep. The Green and White tallied just three attack errors in the final set and hit a respectable .378.

Munkeby led the team with 13 kills, while Ann Pioske and Parlich each chipped in 11. Nikki Hudsfeld also contributed 46 assists and 11 digs for North Dakota.

With a perfect record in the Big Sky Conference, North Dakota returns home for its next three matches, hosting Weber State on Thursday and Idaho State on Saturday before battling in-state rival North Dakota State on Sept. 30.

Elizabeth Erickson is the sports editor of The Dakota Student. She can be reached at elizabeth.e.erickson@my.und.edu